TRANSPORT

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2007,  Official Report, column 1527W, on aviation exhaust emissions, whether he has made any assessment of the potential effects on health of contrails from aircraft.

Gillian Merron: Contrails are ice crystal clouds that form at high altitudes under certain atmospheric conditions. They are initiated by exhaust products and the disturbance caused by aircraft. The Department has sponsored research into these emissions including a major international scientific meeting last year which presented significant new research on the subject:
	http://www.pa.op.dlr.de/tac/.

Bridges: Thames Gateway

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations of  (a) support and  (b) objection he has received on the pending decision on the Thames Gateway Bridge.

Gillian Merron: In the last year the Secretary of State has received  (a) one letter supporting and  (b) two letters opposing the Thames Gateway Bridge.

Bus Services: Concessions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been allocated to the concessionary bus fare scheme for pensioners in 2007-08; what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: From April 2006, older and disabled people have been guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel within their local authority area. Statutory concessionary fares are one of the services supported through Formula Grant, which comprises Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Business Rates and Principal Formula Police Grant.
	Formula Grant is an unhypothecated block grant i.e. authorities are free to spend the money on any service. Because of this and the method of calculation, particularly floor damping (which guarantees local authorities at least a minimum percentage increase by scaling back increases for other authorities), it is not possible to say how much of the total Formula Grant funding is for any particular service. The Government provided an extra £350 million in 2006-07 and a further £367.5 million in 2007-08, via the Formula Grant system, to fund the extra costs to local authorities. The Government are confident that this should be sufficient to cover the total additional cost to local authorities of the statutory concession.
	Local authorities have the discretion to offer (and fund from their own resources) enhancements to the statutory minimum, such as peak bus travel and/or concessions on other modes.

Departments: Energy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) instructions are issued to staff in his Department and  (b) technical procedures are in place to shut down computers at night.

Gillian Merron: The Department for Transport (Central) and its agencies are very conscious of the need to reduce power, thereby contributing to a common target to reduce carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11. All therefore have policies of shutting down computers at night, and staff are regularly instructed to do so by means such as induction training, circulars, general guidance, notices and night security checks. In addition, departmental procurement policy states that preference should be given to energy efficient IT equipment.
	Technical procedures are not used at the moment, although DfT (Central) is examining the possibilities for this, commencing in mid-June, with an automatic shutdown of computers inadvertently left powered on at close of business each Friday.

Fares: Technology

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2006,  Official Report, column 414W, on fares: technology, what progress has been made towards using smartcards as part of the national concessionary fares scheme when it is launched in April 2008.

Gillian Merron: As part of extending concessionary travel to cover journeys on all off peak local bus services anywhere in England, the Department for Transport intends to specify a standard national concessionary bus travel pass.
	We are actively exploring the option of specifying that the new passes must be ITSO compliant smartcards. Our decisions about the specifications of the pass will be dependent on the outcome of a forthcoming consultation and discussions with suppliers.
	ITSO based smartcards are being used by both Scotland and Wales for their national concessionary travel schemes.

Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus has  (a) lay representatives and  (b) a chosen insulin-treated diabetic who can attend meetings of the panel in a non-voting capacity.

Stephen Ladyman: Two lay members sit on the panel.
	There are no health criteria for lay panel members but we do draw them from a range of sources including patient interest and support groups.

Road Traffic Control: Blackwall Tunnel

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the decision to end the tidal flow system at the Blackwall Tunnel.

Gillian Merron: The Secretary of State has received one representation regarding the decision to end the tidal flow system at the Blackwall Tunnel. This was a letter from a Member of Parliament.

Roads: Safety

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to tackle the road safety hazard posed by the theft of drain covers from highways.

Gillian Merron: The Department endorses "Well maintained Highways" the code of practice on highway management published by the UK Roads Liaison Group. The code provides guidance on safety inspections and those defects to be inspected which include ironwork broken or missing.
	The Highways Agency is responsible for the maintenance of the strategic road network. Their routine and winter service code specifies that a missing drain cover requires an immediate and temporary repair and a permanent repair within 28 days. Safety inspections are carried out every 24 hours on most motorways and every seven days on heavily trafficked all purpose trunk roads and on a 28 day cycle on all other trunk roads.

Transport: Radioactive Materials

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations exist to cover the safe transport of radioactively contaminated metals from United Kingdom nuclear plants to other member states of the European Union for decontamination treatment.

Stephen Ladyman: In the European Union the regulations to cover the safe transport of radioactive material are contained in the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 2005 Edition and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) 2005 Edition. These regulations are required to be transposed into domestic regulations by each member state.
	In Great Britain the current regulations are the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Regulations 2002, SI 2002 No. 1093 and the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2003, SI 2003 No. 1867 and, for rail transport, the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004, SI 2004 No. 568.
	The Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations 1993 SI 1993 No. 3031 may also apply in order to prevent diversion of material.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliament: Parking

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 873W, on Parliament: parking, if he will estimate the annual revenue which would be raised by the introduction of a £10 charge for the use of car parking facilities on the estate.

Nick Harvey: As I said in my earlier reply there are no plans to introduce charges for use of car parking spaces on the parliamentary estate.

PRIME MINISTER

Early Intervention Measures

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what research he has evaluated on early intervention measures to tackle the causes of inequality, deprivation and under-attainment.

Tony Blair: Ensuring that all children are able to read is essential to tackling inequality and under-attainment. Since 1997, 95,000 more 11-years-olds are able to read as a result of the daily literacy hour. We are also putting in place the recommendations of the review by Jim Rose for systematic phonics teaching for all children.
	In addition, the Government are also supporting measures to improve children's behaviour and attitudes from an early age. The evaluation of the primary Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme found that it had a positive impact on children's results, behaviour and attitudes to school. Approximately 60 per cent. of primary schools are already implementing SEAL and a programme for secondary schools will start from September 2007.

Departments: Internet

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister for which Government websites he is responsible; how many visitors each received in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost  (a) was of establishing and  (b) has been of maintaining each site.

Tony Blair: My office is responsible for the No. 10 website (http: //www. number-10.gov.uk).
	Information on the number of visits to the site can be found on the No 10. website (http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page1232.asp). A copy of this web page has been placed in the Library of the House.
	On costs, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1807-8W. Figures for the financial year 2006-07 are not yet available.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Credit: EC Action

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the EU Consumer Credit Directive on UK consumer spending in the  (a) year following its implementation and  (b) two years following its implementation.

Ian McCartney: The DTI published an up-dated impact assessment in 2006 on the revised proposal for a Consumer Credit Directive. Our assessment then was that it could impose potential costs on lenders and lead to a possible reduction in access to credit among consumers, both of which could have a negative impact on consumer spending. Since then the proposal has been through a number of re-drafts and we think this risk has been very much reduced. It is not practicable to make any further assessment of the impact of the proposal post-implementation at a time when the text is subject to frequent change. We will be up-dating our impact assessment in the light of the final text if and when the directive is agreed. I will write to the hon. Member as the impact assessment is updated—and place copies in the Libraries of the House.

Credit: EC Action

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the EU Consumer Credit Directive on UK consumer spending, with particular reference to  (a) the overall cost of credit,  (b) the ability to obtain credit and  (c) access for people on low incomes to legal credit.

Ian McCartney: The DTI published an up-dated impact assessment in 2006 on the revised proposal for a Consumer Credit Directive. Our assessment then was that it did put at risk the diversity of credit products and could drive up costs and prices and lead to a reduction in the availability of credit particularly to the sub-prime market. Since then the proposal has been through a number of re-drafts and we think this risk has been very much reduced. Negotiations are ongoing and we will be up-dating our impact assessment in the light of the final text if and when the directive is agreed. I will write to the hon. Member as the impact assessment is updated and place copies in the Libraries of the House.

Overseas Trade: Canada

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department is taking to increase trade with Canada; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 8 May 2007
	Through UK Trade and Investment, the Department supports initiatives and provides services across a range of sectors for UK companies seeking business in Canada, with a clear focus on activity that delivers maximum added value for business and the UK economy.

Pay Television: Competition

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to promote competition in the pay television market.

Ian McCartney: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to my hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departments: Renewable Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much energy in kilowatt hours was purchased by his Department from renewable sources in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: My Department purchased 811,107 kilowatt hours of energy from renewable sources in 2005-06. This represents 25 per cent. of the total energy used and is well ahead of the 10 per cent. target set for March 2008. This is the most recent year for which figures are available.

Equal Opportunities

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the Workplace 2010 scheme in Northern Ireland; which bidders have been short-listed during the procurement stage; and whether Ministers-designate were consulted during the short-listing process.

Peter Hain: This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Health Professions: Training

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will defer the Northern Ireland recruitment process relating to the modernising medical careers programme for 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Midwives

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government are taking to ensure there is an adequate number of midwives in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which flags will be flown from the Northern Ireland Assembly building at Stormont; and on what dates.

Peter Hain: Parliament Buildings is not defined as a Government building as classified in the Flags Order (NI) 2000, and so is not subject to the Flags Regulations. After devolution it will be for the Northern Ireland Administration to decide on flag flying procedures at Parliament Buildings.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Casualties

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were  (a) killed and  (b) injured on duty in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The following tables provide a breakdown of the number of RUC or PSNI officers who have been  (a) killed on duty and  (b) injured on duty.
	
		
			  (a): Number of police officers killed on duty( 1) —1997 to 2006 
			   Number 
			 1997 4 
			 1998 1 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 0 
			 (1) Includes (a) death by terrorist on duty (b) death by non-terrorist on duty (c) death by traffic accident on duty (d) death by accident on duty. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b): Occurrences of injury on duty( 1) —1999( 2)  to 2006 
			   Number 
			 1999 1,598 
			 2000 1,594 
			 2001 2,114 
			 2002 1,490 
			 2003 1,165 
			 2004 928 
			 2005 848 
			 2006 564 
			 (1) Figures include IOD incurred by police officers while travelling to and from work. (2) Earliest year for which this data is available.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget of the Police Service of Northern Ireland was in each year since 2002.

Paul Goggins: The Police Service of Northern Ireland budget for the period 2002-03 to 2006-07, excluding budgets for the police pension schemes which are treated separately to other GB forces, is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Police Service for Northern Ireland analysis of grant 2002-03  to  2006-07 
			  £ million 
			   Main grant revenue  Main grant capital  Patten non severance revenue  Patten non severance capital  Patten severance 
			 2002-03(1) 635.1 20.5 9.8 14.9 42.2 
			 2003-04(1) 649.2 19.7 14.6 12.9 10.2 
			 2004-05 780.8 30.3 20.0 7.9 26.6 
			 2005-06 721.8 32.2 21.1 6.4 28.1 
			 2006-07 764.2 36.1 19.6 2.6 27.9 
			 (1) Represents cash budgeting figure (non cash not included). All other figures are on a resource basis.  Notes: 1. 2004-05 main grant includes a provision for FTR severance. 3. 2006-07 main grant includes a provision for injury on duty liabilities.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: On 27 April 2007 the number of officers and civilian staff of the PSNI, not including secondments, was 12,670.

Police: Crimes of Violence

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks on police officers there were in each district command unit of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Information prior to 2005-06 is not available in the requested format. However the following table outlines the total number of attacks on police officers in each of the last two years.
	
		
			  District command unit  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Antrim 39 7 
			 Ards 5 3 
			 Armagh 7 7 
			 Banbridge 1 4 
			 East Belfast 178 31 
			 North Belfast 454 124 
			 South Belfast 123 39 
			 West Belfast 696 439 
			 Ballymena 29 11 
			 Ballymoney 4 2 
			 Carrickfergus 18 9 
			 Coleraine 6 7 
			 Cookstown 6 8 
			 Craigavon 131 106 
			 Castlereagh 17 22 
			 Dungannon and S. Tyrone 14 3 
			 Down 12 15 
			 Fermanagh 8 2 
			 Foyle 251 173 
			 Larne 3 1 
			 Limavady 7 9 
			 Lisburn 130 138 
			 Magherafelt 2 6 
			 Moyle 5 2 
			 Newtownabbey 79 50 
			 North Down 12 11 
			 Newry and Mourne 62 92 
			 Omagh 12 8 
			 Strabane 39 26 
			 Total 2,350 1,355

JUSTICE

Absent Voting: Merchant Seamen

Mark Todd: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice whether she has received representations concerning difficulties encountered by merchant seamen in responding to requests for information from electoral registration officers in relation to proxy vote entitlement.

Bridget Prentice: I have not received any representations on this matter.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice when she expects her Department's consultation process on the right of convicted prisoners to vote to be completed.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are currently analysing the responses to the first stage consultation document. Once this analysis is complete, a second consultation document will be produced, to consider how any changes might work in practice.
	Our current plans are as set out in the action plan submitted to the Committee of Ministers for responding to the Hirst judgment. That indicates that we hope to conclude the consultation process on this subject by January 2008.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Security Objectives

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the appropriateness of his Department contributing to security objectives overseas.

Gareth Thomas: Security and development are linked. Poverty, under-development, weak and ineffective government all help to provide fertile conditions for conflict, criminality and, in some circumstances, terrorism, which is why DFID country programmes all promote the security of the poor and in doing so, help to address the root causes of insecurity locally, nationally and internationally.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the outcomes of his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: During my visit I met President Kabila, Prime Minister Gizenga and others. I expressed deep concern about the recent fighting in Kinshasa and Bas Congo: Congolese politicians need to embrace democracy, not confrontation and violence. I pressed for renewed commitment to democracy, progress on security sector reform and enforcement of the moratorium on new logging concessions.
	At Panzi hospital in Eastern DRC, I met rape victims aged just 4 and 7. I was moved by the hospital staff's determination to make a difference. DFID's task is to support such efforts to help poor people and sustain peace in DRC.

Water Supplies

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's efforts to promote clean water and sanitation in the developing world.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote clean water and sanitation in the developing world; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We will double our expenditure on water and sanitation in Africa—where the Millennium Development Goal targets are most off-track—to £95 million a year by 2007-08, and then double it again to £200 million a year by 2010-11.
	Last November, I published a global call to action on water and sanitation. We need both developing country Governments and donors to do more, we need to invest more and to ensure this money is spent effectively, and we need to put the best structures in place to make all of this happen.

Nigeria

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Nigeria.

Hilary Benn: Nigeria ranks below the average for sub-Saharan Africa in the UN's Human Development Index. In Northern Nigeria, high maternal mortality, low levels of immunisation, and gender inequality mean human development indicators are among the world's worst, outside conflict zones. While Nigeria has not seen a widespread humanitarian crisis in recent years, there are regional instances of severe human suffering. A nutritional crisis in mid-2005 in several Northern states led Medicins Sans Frontieres to treat over 15,000 severely malnourished children. Meanwhile, oil spills in the Niger Delta have affected the environment and local livelihoods in that region.

Darfur

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: Four million people in Darfur are in need of assistance including two million Internally Displaced Persons, 131,000 of whom have been displaced since the beginning of the year.
	Recent assessment showed malnutrition just below emergency line and fairly stable mortality figures. This success however is dependent on continued humanitarian assistance which continues to be under threat both from violence and from bureaucratic impediments imposed by the Government of Sudan. Aid delivery remains suspended or severely curtailed in many areas of Darfur leaving large numbers of people with no access to critical humanitarian assistance.

Darfur

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: Four million people in Darfur are in need of assistance including two million who have been displaced by violence. Displacements continue at an alarming rate of 30,000 a month.
	Recent assessments report malnutrition just below emergency threshold and fairly stable mortality figures. However this success is dependent on the provision of ongoing humanitarian assistance which continues to be under threat both from insecurity and from bureaucratic impediments imposed by the Government of Sudan. Aid deliveries remain suspended or severely curtailed in many areas of Darfur leaving many without access to critical humanitarian assistance.

Vulture Funds

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with  (a) the World Bank and  (b) other multilateral institutions on the activities of vulture funds in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The actions of vulture funds are deplorable. They cannot be allowed to continue to profit from poor countries. The UK is working with the World Bank to ensure that countries can buy back their commercial debts at a considerable discount through the Debt Reduction Facility. We are encouraging the World Bank and IMF to strengthen their support for debt management capacity building in developing countries. The UK is also supporting the African Development Bank's proposal to set up a legal assistance facility to help countries facing lawsuits access legal advice. In addition, we will seek to develop a voluntary code of conduct for commercial creditors.

Latin America

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle inequality in Latin America.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is primarily working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and World Bank. We are seeking to help the poor to get better access to markets, and to make their voice heard in Government services. There are signs of improvement: between 2001 and 2005, incomes of the poorest 10 per cent. of people in Brazil rose eight times faster than incomes of the top 10 per cent. This is in part because of the Bolsa Familia programme of cash transfers that the banks and DFID have been supporting.

Somalia

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Somalia.

Hilary Benn: The UN has declared Somalia one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. Killings, woundings, displacement, destruction of homes, and theft of property, especially due to the conflict in Mogadishu, has added to mounting levels of starvation and epidemic disease especially in southern and central Somalia. More people were displaced in Somalia in the past month than in any other conflict in the world. Continuing insecurity, and deliberate harassment and obstruction by all parties is seriously impeding relief efforts. Against a UN appeal of $262 million DFID has committed over £3.6 million to humanitarian activities in 2007, and is considering further support.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Planning Permission

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will revise paragraphs 29 to 31 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 to allow local planning authorities to take account of concerns about the potential health effects of mobile telecommunications stations irrespective of whether the proposed station meets the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines for public exposure.

Meg Munn: We are currently considering the need to revise Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 but have yet to make a decision on whether we will do so. If we believe there is a case for revision to the guidance, we will consult the Electronic Communications Working Group which comprises Government, industry, academic and campaign representatives.

Bridges: Thames Gateway

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many representations of  (a) support and  (b) objection she has received on the pending decision on the Thames Gateway Bridge.

Meg Munn: Overall, the Department has received 4,808 written representations objecting to the scheme, broken down as follows:
	2,949 representations, of which 2,836 were contained in petitions, before the opening of the Public Inquiry into the proposed Bridge;
	1,819 representations were made during the Inquiry; and
	44 representations following the close of the Inquiry.
	Overall, the Department has received 77 written representations supporting the scheme, broken down as follows:
	59 expressions of support/representations for the proposal before the opening of the Public Inquiry into the proposed Bridge;
	11 representations were made during the Inquiry; and
	7 written representations following the close of the Inquiry.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire authorities  (a) have formally committed to moving to regional fire control centres,  (b) are awaiting a final business case before formally deciding,  (c) have formally committed not to move to regional fire control centres and  (d) have agreed to join local authority controlled companies, but with caveats that they may withdraw if the full business case does not provide evidence of value for money.

Angela Smith: holding answer 24 April 2007
	As yet no fire and rescue authority has been asked to commit to formally moving to a regional fire control centre although all have been asked to make preparations for doing so in accordance with the fire and rescue national framework. The business case shows that FiReControl provides good value for money and we expect every fire and rescue authority should see savings on current spend.

Planning Permission

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many decisions of the Planning Inspectorate she has overturned since  (a) 5 December 2005 and  (b) 1 November 2006; and whether any of these decisions relate to reserve sites as identified in the local development plan.

Meg Munn: I am presuming that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to decisions where the Secretary of State has disagreed with the 'recommendation' of a Planning Inspector. The Secretary of State does not overturn decisions taken by the Planning Inspectorate.
	 Since 5 Dec ember 2005:
	The Secretary of State has made 23 planning decisions against the recommendations of the Inspector.
	 Since 1 November 2006:
	The Secretary of State has made seven planning decisions against the recommendations of the Inspector.
	The issue of reserve sites for housing is not one that arises nationally. It relates to only a few areas, including the county in which the right hon. Gentleman's constituency lies. It was not an issue in any of these cases.
	Some recent cases, where the Secretary of State has been minded to make a decision against Inspectors recommendations, will not be included in these statistics as a final decision has not yet been issued.

Planning Permission

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her policy on determining planning applications has altered with the publication of Planning Policy Statement 3.

Meg Munn: Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) was published in November 2006 and took full effect on 1 April 2007. It is therefore the relevant national policy statement which the Secretary of State takes into account in determining planning cases which involve prospective housing development.

Planning Permission

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many decisions of the Planning Inspectorate she overturned in each year for which records are available; and what proportion this represents of all inspectorate decisions in each year, broken down by regional planning authority.

Meg Munn: I am presuming that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to decisions where the Secretary of State has disagreed with the 'recommendation' of a Planning Inspector.
	The Secretary of State does not overturn decisions taken by the Planning Inspectorate.
	If so, records are available since 2002, and can be seen in the following table:
	
		
			   Call-ins (Number)  Call-ins (Percentage)  Recovered appeals (Number)  Recovered appeals (Percentage)  Total (Number)  Total (Percentage) 
			  2006-07   
			 Total decisions 80 — 153 — 233 — 
			 Decisions against Inspector's recommendation 6 7.5 10 6.5 16 6.9 
			  2005-06   
			 Total decisions 78 — 306 — 384 — 
			 Decisions against Inspector's recommendation 17 21.8 18 5.9 35 9.1 
			
			  2004-05   
			 Total decisions 86 — 261 — 347 — 
			 Decisions against Inspector's recommendation 12 14.0 17 6.5 29 8.3 
			
			
			  2003-04   
			 Total decisions 88 — 236 — 324 — 
			 Decisions against Inspector's recommendation 11 12.5 20 8.5 31 9.6 
			
			  2002-03   
			 Total decisions 59 — 124 — 183 — 
			 Decisions against Inspector's recommendation 12 20.3 5 4.0 17 9.3 
		
	
	The figures, for cases decided by the Secretary of State, should be seen in the context of the total number of planning decisions made by Inspectors of the Planning Inspectorate:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 14,950 
			 2003-04 18,194 
			 2004-05 17,403 
			 2005-06 21,493 
			 2006-07 20,860 
		
	
	For the most recent year, the 16 decisions made by the Secretary of State against the recommendation of the Inspector represents 0.08 per cent. of the total number of decisions made by Inspectors or the Secretary of State.
	There are no regional planning authorities, as suggested in the question. It may be that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the Government Office regions. Should this be the case, I would be more than happy to provide him with this information on request.

Planning Permission

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account she takes of local residents' views when determining planning applications.

Meg Munn: The Secretary of State fully takes into account the views of local people when determining planning applications. The principle of fully considering the views of local people, and the importance the Secretary of State ascribes to this process, is outlined in paragraphs 40-44 of Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development.
	Furthermore, the Secretary of State will always consider the Inspector's Report, inquiry evidence and post-inquiry representations—all of which incorporate the views of local people.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on reconstruction works in Afghanistan being undertaken by those responsible to him.

Adam Ingram: The Secretary of State announced the deployment of additional Royal Engineers on 10 July 2006 to accelerate the reconstruction effort in southern Afghanistan. It is worth noting, though, that the UK task force as a whole is deployed to provide security so that reconstruction and development may take place.
	The following tables list quick impact projects being undertaken in Helmand Province, and the progress that has been made to date. I have stated the agency responsible for the implementation of each project, and identified whether the responsible agency reports to the MOD. It is important to note, however, that in all instances the military work closely with other Government Departments and non-governmental organisations to agree key priorities with the Afghan authorities. In many instances, project delivery will require the involvement of a number of agencies. This is in line with our comprehensive approach.
	In addition to the projects in the following table, there are a number of long-term development initiatives being undertaken throughout Afghanistan, to which the Department for International Development (DFID) contributes. DFID funds around $60 million over three years (2006-09) in support of their Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme.
	
		
			  Security 
			  Responsible agency  Agency responsible to MOD  Location  Title  Total cost ($)  Status 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Permanent Vehicle Check Point (PVCP) 21,387 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Afghan National Police (ANP) Infrastructure in Gereshk 240,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Afghan National Army (ANA) Platoon House 40,387 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah ANP Outposts 143,964 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah 4 x PVCPs 155,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah 4 x Enhanced PVCPs 110,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Helmand Construction resources for 12 modular Military Construction Force built ANP temporary police stations/PVCPs 600,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah New Joint Provincial Coordination Centre 161,147 Complete 
			 Governor's Office No Lashkar Gah 2 x PVCPs 16,800 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Ablutions at US Protection and Investigations (USPI) compound for Afghan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP) training 5,265 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Tombstone Camp Shorabak (ANA) Mosque 100,000 Planned 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Provision of security infrastructure for Governor's office and Bost Hotel 84,227 In progress 
			 Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Yes Kajaki Water/Fuel storage for the ANA 1,200 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Upgrade to ANA compound in Gereshk 15,000 Complete 
			 Operations Company Yes Laskhar Gah Upgrade to Muktar Gate 6,475 In progress 
			 42 Commando Yes Nowzad Rubble Clearance 0 In progress 
			 Royal Military Police (RMP) Yes Lashkar Gah Bonus Scheme for ANP top-performers at PVCPs 3,000 In progress 
			 Information Exploitation Group Yes Garmsir Garmsir PVCP repairs 700 In progress 
			 Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) No Lashkar Gah Afghan Meeting facility 651 Complete 
			 Total1,705,203  
		
	
	
		
			  Social and economic development 
			  Responsible agency  Agency responsible to MOD  Location  Title  Total cost ($)  Status 
			 Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation (HAFO) No Gereshk Sayed Tajdar Shrine: wall and gate construction 21,224 Complete 
			 HAFO No Gereshk Sayed Tajdar Shrine: road and footpath construction 33,076 Complete 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Improvement of Friday market and Gabion wall 140,623 Complete 
			 HAFO No Cha-i-Anjeer Improvement of Friday market 24,950 Complete 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Gabion Extension 34,108 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Safean Playground 50,000 In progress 
			 PRT No Lashkar Gah Support to Office of Governor to respond to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) needs 60,000 Complete 
			 Information Operations (IO) Yes Lashkar Gah improvements to Media Centre 8,336 Complete 
			 Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Yes Lashkar Gah/Gereshk Installation of solar-powered lighting 280,960 In progress 
			 IO Yes Lashkar Gah Support to Radio Stations 150,000 In progress 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Weir on Helmand River 161,848 Complete 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 Complete 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Silt Removal from Helmand River 259,479 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Bost Hospital Generator and Mortuary 130,400 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Security wall for Women's Centre 30,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Building work for Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 86,052 Complete 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Women's Centre sewing ISAF badges to UK mil uniforms 750 Complete 
			 Governor's Office No Nahrisiraj Work to clear and strengthen stretch of Nahrisiraj canal 12,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Construction of 8 new classrooms at Zacor School 80,008 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Connection of a new school to electricity grid 1,809 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Construction of a 20 room midwifery hostel 221,762 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Construction of a perimeter wall for Cha I Anjeer school 25,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Essential repairs to Bolan Bridge 231,728 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Welfare Association for Development of Afghanistan (WADAN) Playground 1,090 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Repairs to 3 schools 185,062 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Improvements to Lashkar Gah library 13,925 Complete 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Sports equipment for 8 schools 0 Planned 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah School sports equipment 30,000 Planned 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Kartelegan Playground 52,237 Complete 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Welfare Centre Kitchen 15,819 In progress 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Women's Park 840,813 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah New School in Qala-e-Khana 0 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Refurbishment of Nawa School 72,713 In progress 
			 Ministry of Public Health No Lashkar Gah Rapid Assessment of Mukhtar IDP camp 973 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Musa Qaleh Repairs to 3 mosques 350,000 Planned 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Playground and Football pitch 39,098 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Seminar Awal School repairs 0 Planned 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Technical School repairs 0 Planned 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Gereshk Abolfathi Botsi Boys School Repairs 0 Planned 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Ministry of Agriculture Tree 6,750 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Garmsir Reconstruction using local labour—road, wells, ditches 4,000 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Garmsir Culvert bridge 500 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Garmsir Bore Hole and Hand Pump 1,750 In Progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Nahr-e-Saraj Lashkar Gah-Gereshk canal road culvert and gravel track repairs 28,272 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah 3 km asphalt road and solid drainage Kartelegan-601 429,950 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Garmsir CHC Generator Repair 505 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah/Gereshk Midwifery Kits 5,416 In progress 
			 Stabilisation Advisor (STABAD) No Lashkar Gah Carpet weaving pilot project 82,733 In Progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Furniture for Zacor High School 20,000 Complete 
			 PRT No Helmand Support to Director of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) for Musa Qaleh IDPs 800 Complete 
			 CIMIC Yes Gereshk Refuse Collection Points and new trucks 34,000 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Lashkar Gah Upgrade to Bost Hospital Grounds 150,860 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Gereshk Furniture for Gereshk Women's Group 1,920 Complete 
			 HAFO No Lashkar Gah Lashkar Gah Bus Station 854,327 In progress 
			 UK Task Force (UKTF) Yes Garmsir Wells and Water Tower 10,800 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Covered waiting area at Bost Hospital 7,000 Complete 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Reconstruct Dept of Land Registry 98,142 In progress 
			 CIMIC Yes Helmand Procure 3 GPS units 500 In progress 
			 PRT No Helmand Provide Plant Machinery to DRRD 2,268,000 In progress 
			 Police Mentors No Lashkar Gah Additional Support to the Traffic Division 40,000 In progress 
			 Total7,860,113  
		
	
	
		
			  Governance 
			  Responsible agency  Agency responsible to MOD  Location  Title  Total cost ($)  Status 
			 BBC World Service (BBCWS) No Lashkar Gah/Gereshk Radio Transmitter 94,231 Complete 
			 RMP Yes Helmand ID card making facility (ANP) 30,295 Complete 
			 PRT No Lashkar Gah Generators for the Governor's Office and compound 220,186 Complete 
			 Justice Advisor No Lashkar Gah Wall for the Office of the Prosecutor 10,000 Planned 
			 Governance Advisor No Lashkar Gah Refurbish of Offices for Provincial Government Departments 32,000 In progress 
			 IO Yes Lashkar Gah Rehabilitate Printing Press 224,098 In progress 
			 Governor's Office No Musa Qaleh Set up costs for Musa Qaleh District Administration 10,000 Complete 
			 RMP Yes Lashkar Gah Equipment for 8 PVCPs 32,584 In progress 
			 PRT No Lashkar Gah Additional support to the Dept of Hajj 24,167 In progress 
			 Police Mentors No Lashkar Gah Support to ANP Traffic Division 32,631 In progress 
			 Total710,192  
		
	
	
		
			  Counter-narcotics (CN) 
			  Responsible agency  Agency responsible to MOD  Location  Title  Total cost ($)  Status 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Regrading of Bost Airfield 555,000 In progress 
			 MNCC No Lashkar Gah Windmill Wells 10,640 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Upgrade to Lashkar Gah prison 45,385 Complete 
			 British Embassy Drugs Team (BEDT) No Lashkar Gah Comms equipment for the Counter-Narcotics Police Authority (CNPA) 8,900 Complete 
			 BEDT No Helmand PA Systems for 12 District Centres 3,000 Complete 
			 BEDT No Helmand CN Tractor Repairs 12,000 Complete 
			 BEDT No Helmand CN Tractor Ploughs 30,000 Complete 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Tractors and equipment for the Governor 884,718 In progress 
			 Royal Engineers Yes Lashkar Gah Repair to bomb-damage at the Directorate of Counter-Narcotics 21,079 Complete 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Upgrade to Counter Narcotics Provincial Administration 88,925 In progress 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Incinerator for Bost hospital 30,000 In progress 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Uniforms for the Prison Staff 5,000 Complete 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Computer for Chief of Police 1,761 Complete 
			 BEDT No Lashkar Gah Support to the Counter Narcotics Provincial Administration 340,000 In progress 
			 Total2,031,408

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which British military units are deployed to Afghanistan, broken down by Afghan province;
	(2)  when he plans to update the list of units deployed to Afghanistan on his Department's website.

Des Browne: holding answer 2 May 2007
	Following the recent roulement of forces in Afghanistan, an up to date list of military units deployed to Afghanistan is now available on the MOD website.
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/Operations Factsheets/OperationsInAfghanistanBritishForces.htm

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) British and  (b) Afghan (i) armed forces members and (ii) civilians were killed in (A) each of the years since the present conflict began and (B) in each month of the most recent year.

Des Browne: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The numbers of UK military and civilian personnel killed or injured in Afghanistan are published on the Ministry of Defence website:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/Operations Factsheets
	and are in the following tables. Figures cover military personnel and UK civilians employed, or contracted, by the MOD.
	
		
			  Number of UK military and civilian fatalities from 7 October 2001 to 31 December 2006 
			   Number 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 39 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of UK military and civilian fatalities in 2007 by completed month 
			   Number 
			 January 2 
			 February 2 
			 March 4 
			 April 1 
		
	
	Figures for Afghan armed forces fatalities are not held by the UK and are a matter for the Afghan National Government. There are no reliable means of ascertaining the numbers of Afghan civilians killed during the period since the conflict began. The UK makes every effort to minimise the impact of military action on the Afghan population.

Armed Forces: Casualties

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for the  (a) policy,  (b) administration and  (c) operational aspects of the safe return of the bodies of service personnel killed on operations to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Ownership of repatriation policy rests with the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel). The administration and operation of the process rests with the personnel staffs located at the permanent joint headquarters and the nominated lead authority, usually the parent service of the deceased.

Armed Forces: Children

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what Government support is available for the children of single parents who are serving in combat with HM armed forces;
	(2)  what support is provided for the care of children whose parents or guardians are both deployed on overseas operations with HM armed forces.

Derek Twigg: Service personnel who are single parents remain liable for deployment on operations in accordance with identified operational requirements. The need to make plans in advance for appropriate care arrangements for dependent children is made very clear to all service personnel but is explicitly brought to the attention of single parents. All children of any service personnel deployed on operations will continue to receive the full range of support available, such as unit staff, specialist service welfare organisations, community support staff, MOD children's education support staff, HIVE information services, and the families federations.
	This support will be available direct to children or, more typically, through those who have taken on the care of those children in the absence of the parent, in accordance with the arrangements made by the service parent.
	The responsibilities, arrangements, support and advice available in the case of both serving parents being deployed on operations is no different to the case of a serving single parent deploying on operations. The armed forces are very successful in minimising the occurrence of such simultaneous deployments.

Armed Forces: Employment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rules are covering the release of servicemen serving in the armed forces to work for the private security sector during the last weeks of service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Service personnel leaving the Regular Forces may accept paid permanent employment while on Terminal Leave subject to the requirements laid down in Queen's Regulations which are available from the Library of the House.
	Contrary to my answer of 26 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1247W, Service personnel leaving the Regular Forces may accept paid employment while on Terminal Leave subject to the requirements laid down in Queen's Regulations which are available from the Library of the House. Queen's Regulations for the Army do however specifically preclude personnel taking up civil employment in an operational area while on Terminal Leave.

Armed Forces: Housing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many single service personnel in the  (a) Army,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force were living in communal accommodation in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The number of service personnel living in multi-occupant rooms within single living accommodation is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Life Insurance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the service personnel life insurance programme will be for 2007-08 and subsequent planned years; and under which budget this cost falls.

Adam Ingram: The projected cost of the Service Life Insurance (SLI) project for 2007-08 is £90,000. This sum covers salaries (until the project team disbands on 30 June 2007), consultancy and 'bedding in' costs following SLI launch in May 2007.
	SLI attracts no cost in subsequent years as it is planned to be at nil cost. All SLI costs fall to the centre top level budget.

Armed Forces: Pay

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel were mispaid on the first pay run by the Army Joint Personnel Administration; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The April payroll has been completed successfully on time and the vast majority of 110,104 Army regulars and 17,059 TA personnel have received their basic pay accurately. 8,238 personnel have been affected by minor discrepancies in relation to deduction charges and allowances, of which some 4,000 stem from a single error resulting in an overpayment of £1.43 per person. 90 per cent. of these will be corrected in the May pay run with the remainder being corrected in June.

Armed Forces: South Africa

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1033W, on the Armed Forces: South Africa, what steps he is taking to estimate the number of personnel serving in the British Army who have dual British and South African citizenship.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 British, Irish or Commonwealth citizens can apply to join the Army, but there is no requirement for personnel with dual nationality to declare this on their Record of Service (ROS). As such, the only way to accurately determine this information, would require asking each and every British and South African national, and would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, a check of the ROS has shown that 150 personnel in the Army have declared dual British/South African nationality.

Army: Fairtrade

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Fairtrade products purchased for the office of the  (a) Chief of the General Staff and  (b) Adjutant General in the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: No separate records are kept covering the purchase of Fairtrade items. The information is not therefore available.

Departments: BAE Systems

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2007,  Official Report, column 458W, on BAE Systems, whether Mr. Julian Scopes was issued a security pass before December 2005.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 20 April 2007
	 Mr. Scopes was photographed for a Main Building pass on 16 October 2004 and a contractor's pass (valid for a year) was first issued to him at that time. My response of 15 March 2007,  Official Report, column 458W, gave details of the most recent pass (which expired in December 2006). I apologise for any misunderstanding this may have caused.

Departments: India

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers in his Department have visited India in the last 12 months; on how many occasions each Minister visited India; and what the length was of each visit.

Derek Twigg: None.

Departments: Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1462W, on departments: manpower, how many of the civilian personnel referred to in the answer are  (a) Departmental personnel and  (b) private contractors.

Derek Twigg: The civilian personnel numbers relate to staff filling civil service posts.

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: The percentage of paper used for photocopying and printed publications from recycled sources in the last three years is as follows:
	In MOD Main Building, 100 per cent. of the paper used for photocopying comes from recycled sources, a practice which started in March 2006. For the Department as a whole, the figures for the last three years are as follows; 2.1 per cent. for 2004-05; 1.8 per cent. for 2005-06; 1.9 per cent. for 2006-07. As a Department, it is planned that as of October 2007, 100 per cent. of paper used for photocopying will be from recycled sources.
	In 2006-07, the percentage of paper used for printed publications coming from recycled sources was 3.1 per cent. This figure is based on two thirds of MOD printed publications, the remaining one third covers smaller independent contracts for which data are unobtainable.
	Data for the previous two years are unavailable from the supplier. As of April 2007, our new suppliers are required to print on paper containing a minimum of 50 per cent. recycled fibres.
	As these targets are being put in place this year, our current data will not reflect this step change in paper procurement.

Departments: Telephone Services

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department with the prefix  (a) 0870 and  (b) 0845; and whether alternative geographic numbers are available in each case.

Derek Twigg: The use of 0800, 0845 or 0870 numbers in the Department and its Agencies is determined at local level in accordance with individual business requirements and ordered directly from the supplier. Records of these numbers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

European Fighter Aircraft

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much was saved by the decision taken in 2001 not to equip Typhoon aircraft with Mauser 27 mm cannon;
	(2)  what the cost has been of retrofitting Typhoon aircraft with cannon.

Adam Ingram: holding answer s  30 April 2007
	All RAF Typhoon aircraft have been fitted with a cannon. As stated within the Major Project Report 2006, the decision to leave the Typhoon cannon non-operational was assessed to save £32 million in programme costs.

European Fighter Aircraft

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest assessment is of the merits of fitting a cannon to  (a) Typhoon and  (b) other future combat aircraft.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 1 May 2007
	The activation of the cannon on Typhoon, and its fitting to future combat aircraft, would provide an additional means of delivering air-to-surface low collateral damage effect in support of ground forces. This would need to be weighed against the through life costs of such a capability, including the implications for airframe life.

Gap Year Commission

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Gap Year Commission was started; and how many people passed though it in each year since it started.

Derek Twigg: Gap Year Commissions were introduced in 2000, prior to this, personnel were granted a Short Service Limited Commission.
	Intake by financial year, of untrained Regular Army Officers to Gap Year Commission is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 2000-01 60 
			 2001-02 70 
			 2002-03 80 
			 2003-04 70 
			 2004-05 30 
			 2005-06 40 
			 2006-07(1) 50 
			 (1) 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for the medical welfare of reserve forces who have served in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan on their return; and in what ways such arrangements differ to those in place for regular servicemen and women.

Derek Twigg: Any mobilised serviceman or woman injured when on operational deployment is treated the same, and will receive exactly the same medical treatment and support, whether they are regular or reserve. If a medical officer in-theatre assesses that a member of the reserve forces requires treatment or rehabilitation back in the UK, they will be treated in exactly the same way as regular personnel. This may include treatment and rehabilitation at a military Regional Rehabilitation Unit or the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, Surrey, or—if the problem is related to their mental health—admission to the Priory Group or treatment at a military Department of Community Mental Health.
	When reserve personnel are demobilised, they are given a medical assessment. During this process, if it is identified that they are in need of an operation they may be referred to NHS hospitals housing Ministry of Defence Hospital Units or the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, where they will be treated within military time frames which can in some cases offer faster access to treatment. Reserve personnel will receive treatment for injuries sustained on operation until they are deemed to have reached a steady state of fitness. They are then demobilised, and taken through a transition from military to NHS care, if they have continuing health care needs.
	The patient may express a preference for treatment in a hospital nearer to their home, which may be a non-MDHU hospital, and some reservists opt for this route. In accordance with NHS protocols, if they are referred on to a non-MDHU hospital, then access to treatment is according to clinical priority.
	Once demobilised it is a long established tradition that reserve forces' medical welfare becomes the responsibility of their local NHS primary care trust and the majority of Veterans' physical and mental health needs are met by these provisions. However, the MOD recognises that it has an expertise to offer in certain specific circumstances, and in November 2006 launched a new initiative—the Reserves Mental Health Programme. This is open to personnel who have been demobilised since January 2003 following overseas operational deployment as a reservist and who have concerns that their mental health has suffered primarily as a result of their operational service leading up to their demobilisation.
	They will be invited to attend the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, where members of the Defence Medical Services will carry out an assessment of their mental health. If it is considered that they are eligible for out-patient treatment by the Defence Medical Services, this will be provided at one of the military Departments of Community Mental Health, at the most convenient site to meet the individual's circumstances whenever possible. More details of the programme are available at:
	http://www.army.mod.uk/rtmc/rmhp.htm
	Finally, the Government fund courses of care at Combat Stress facilities for both regulars and reservists whose condition is due to service and for whom this is an appropriate course of treatment.

Lynx Helicopters

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the acquisition costs are of the Lynx Mk 8 aircraft; and what the average total operating cost is per hour.

Adam Ingram: The current Lynx Mk8 aircraft were initially procured as Mk 2 and Mk3 aircraft between 1979 and 1988 and have subsequently been extensively modified, enhanced and converted to the Mk8 standard. The average Net Book Value on 16 January 2007 for these aircraft was £11.5 million.
	The total operating cost per flying hour for Lynx Mk 8 is approximately £16,000. This cost includes both fixed and marginal costs incurred in using the aircraft, comprising servicing costs, fuel costs, crew capitation and training costs, support costs and charges for capital and depreciation.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Minister for Veterans expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 22 December 2007, (ref: D/US of S/DT MC00143/2007).

Derek Twigg: holding answer 27 April 2007
	Following my interim reply of 22 February, I sent a final response to the hon. Member on 30 April.

Permanent Joint Headquarters

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the permanent joint headquarters is integrated with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) engages with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) on operational issues through a number of tri-departmental strategic and working groups from ministerial level downwards. Desk level officials maintain close and regular contacts across departments. Policy and Commitments staff in MOD head office lead on cross-governmental engagement. Permanent joint headquarters (PJHQ) staff are consulted and contribute on operational and tactical matters to provide an integrated HMG response.
	At the tactical level, as part of the UK's comprehensive approach to our operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, personnel in theatre engage regularly with their deployed counterparts in the FCO and DfID. PJHQ staff monitor and advise as necessary on these interactions.
	The MOD has also developed a formal agreement with DfID on the provision of military assistance to humanitarian relief operations and is in the process of agreeing service levels with the FCO on the provision of military assistance to evacuation operations.

War Pensions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many war pensions were awarded under the Naval, Military and Air Forces, Etc, (Disablement and Death) Service Pension Order in each year between 2001-02 and 2004-05.

Derek Twigg: The number of war pensions awarded under the Naval, Military and Air Forces, Etc, (Disablement and Death) Service Pension Order is by year shown in the following table.
	
		
			  War pensions 
			   Number 
			 2001-02 5,945 
			 2002-03 5,075 
			 2003-04 4,530 
			 2004-05 4,230 
			  Note: Data have been rounded to the nearest five.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Productivity

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help improve the productivity of farming.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 8 May 2007
	Total factor productivity for UK farming, which shows the volume of output leaving the industry per unit of all inputs including fixed capital and labour, rose by 2.1 per cent. in 2006. More information about the productivity levels of UK farming can be found in the DEFRA publication 'Agriculture in the United Kingdom'.
	DEFRA continues to conduct research, at both the farm level and through aggregate comparisons with other countries, into what influences the productivity of UK farming.
	Improving productivity is a key element for our vision for farming, which identifies an industry that is profitable in the market place, makes a positive net environmental contribution and manages the landscape and the natural assets that underlie it.
	We are undertaking a range of actions to improve the competitive position of farming in England. These include:
	i. The use of Axis 1 funding of the new Rural Development Programme for England, which will be used to promote greater awareness of market opportunities, including for diversified enterprises, the benefits of collaboration and co-operation, and the acquisition of skills needed to exploit new opportunities.
	ii. Restructuring the five statutory horticulture and agriculture levy boards into one overarching levy board with subsidiary, sectoral companies, thus allowing for efficiencies and commonalities to be identified, in order to help the sectors involved. For example, the new structure will facilitate exchange of information across the sectors on issues of common interest such as water and waste.
	iii. In addition to that available under the agriculture development scheme, the Government have provided a significant amount of dedicated funding to the Food Chain Centre and the Red Meat and Cereals Industry Forums, and English Farming and Food Partnerships, as a transitional measure to help the industry adapt to a more market-orientated future.
	iv. Implementation of the non-food crops strategy, which aims to drive forward the bio-based economy through research, dissemination of technology and knowledge, and building supply chains from agriculture to industry.
	v. Supporting the quality regional food sector through a five year £5 million programme (which began in 2003-04) with the specific objective of creating a flourishing high quality regional food sector.
	vi. Working with stakeholders to progress the action plan to develop organic food and farming in England which aims to create a sustainable and competitive organic farming and food sector.
	vii. Support for farmers to take advantage of financial risk management products to enable them to be more resilient to increased price volatility, and to increase uptake of the business benchmarking software that is available under through the whole farm approach.
	viii. Helping farmers and growers under the public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI) to develop the capabilities and capacity necessary to meet the public sector's requirements for food.
	ix. Establishment of the biomass action plan with the objective of addressing barriers to the production of biomass energy, and stimulating the development of the sector.
	x. Improving the regulation of farming, by making it more effective, and efficient for farmers, thus helping them to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
	xi. The whole farm approach (WFA) helps farmers to identify where there is a regulatory requirement and the actions necessary to fulfil that requirement, supported by targeted help and guidance.
	xii. Developing a business competence framework for the environmental and land-based sectors to provide a clear understanding of what skills an individual will require to work in particular industries and in particular jobs within those industries.
	xiii. Supporting the initiative which aims to encourage new people into the farming industry with the appropriate skills to succeed in a market-driven environment.

Black Environment Network: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have provided to the Black Environment Network; for what purpose the funding was provided; and what the outcome of such funding has been, broken down by project.

Barry Gardiner: The following table shows funding contributions to the Black Environment Network (BEN) over recent years from English Nature and the Countryside Agency (CA), as founding bodies for Natural England.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Countryside Agency  English Nature  Natural England 
			 2002-03 13,300 3,000 — 
			 2003-04 7,700 3,000 — 
			 2004-05 7,800 7,000 — 
			 2005-06 5,200 3,000 — 
			 2006-07 0 0 0 
			 Totals 34,000 16,000 — 
		
	
	No payments have been made to BEN after 1 October 2006 from any of the founding bodies, or Natural England.
	English Nature (EN) had a long standing relationship with BEN and recognised the valuable work done to support and develop the involvement of ethnic minority groups and individuals with the natural environment. The payments in 2004-05 and 2005-06 were to further develop their national and regional networks, and to provide English Nature staff with awareness training, advice and guidance with projects involving ethnic communities.
	Through our support, BEN was able to improve its network administration and support, further develop its website, and share good practice. An English Nature staff training event was very successful and well attended. Staff gained confidence and understanding, and were able to follow up and seek specific advice on their projects.
	Additionally, the CA provided a three year grant to fund specific posts within BEN from January 2002 to March 2005.
	BEN received funding of £98,473 over three years for their project 'Core Strategic Programme' under the Environmental Action Fund (EAF) 2002-05.
	The project aim was to support and enable ethnic participation in sustainable development through developing the knowledge, skills and values needed to make decisions about how they do things, individually and collectively, locally and globally.
	Key project activities and outcomes included:
	Work developing and strengthening BEN as an infrastructural organisation
	Enabling active participation in sustainable living,
	Formalisation and promotion of partnership initiatives focussed on ethnic environmental participation,
	Strategic participation in mainstream environmental movement, in order to maintain profile of ethnic community environmental participation,
	Publication and promotion of resource materials based on models of good practice, in order to stimulate ethnic community environmental participation,
	Development and promotion of BEN as a training and consultancy resource for ethnic community environmental participation.

Departments: Expenditure

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) temporary staff accommodation and  (b) travel expenses in each year since 2001.

Barry Gardiner: The Department does not maintain a discrete record of expenditure on temporary staff accommodation.
	Details of travel expenses can be found under other administration costs in the notes to the Department's resource accounts.

Departments: Manpower

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff were employed in the press offices of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies in each year since 2001.

Barry Gardiner: The number of press officers in Core DEFRA is tabulated as follows, with the census point for the number of press officers taken as June for each year. The staffing numbers for the Press Office fluctuate during the course of any one year.
	
		
			  Staff number as at June 
			   Press officers 
			 2001 22 
			 2002 22 
			 2003 22 
			 2004 18 
			 2005 24 
			 2006 24 
		
	
	The DEFRA Press Office provides services for the Central Science Laboratory, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Veterinary Laboratory Agency, and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
	The number of staff employed in the press offices of each of the remaining DEFRA agencies of CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences) and the Rural Payments Agency, in each year since 2001 is tabulated as follows:
	
		
			   Agency 
			   CEFAS  RPA 
			 2001 0.02 0.2 
			 2002 0.03 0.2 
			 2003 0.03 0.2 
			 2004 0.68 0.2 
			 2005 1.0 0.2 
			 2006 1.0 1.0

Departments: Manpower

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies spent on staff employed in press agencies in each year since 2001.

Barry Gardiner: The salary and directly related costs for all permanent and temporary staff for both Press Officers and support staff were as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2001-02 1.3 
			 2002-03 1.2 
			 2003-04 1.1 
			 2004-05 1.3 
			 2005-06 1.8 
			 2006-07 1.5 
		
	
	The DEFRA Press Office provides press office services for the Central Science Laboratory, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Veterinary Laboratory Agency, and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
	The costs for Press Officers and support staff in each of the remaining DEFRA agencies of CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences) and the Rural Payments Agency, in each year since 2001 were as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Agency  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 CEFAS 900 936 18,140 41,222 50,201 43,553 
			 RPA 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 40,000 132,000

Departments: Orders and Regulations

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations were implemented by his Department in each year since 2001.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The number of Statutory Instruments implemented by the Department for the years 2001-06 are: 2001—133 (includes those implemented by MAFF up to June 2001); 2002—120; 2003—106; 2004—125; 2005—144; 2006—150; The figure to date for 2007 is 59.
	DEFRA is committed to a comprehensive programme of regulating better. Our December 2006 simplification plan, maximising outcomes, minimising burdens, explains the action that is being taken across DEFRA and its agencies to reduce administrative burdens and to improve regulations, and identifies over 130 separate initiatives that will contribute to meeting our target of reducing the administrative burden we impose on business by 25 per cent. by 2010. Those initiatives are scheduled to deliver an annual administrative burden reduction of around £159 million. That includes removing redundant legislation, without compromising environmental standards, seeking alternatives to traditional regulation and taking a risk-based approach to enforcement and inspection. A copy of the simplification plan is available from the Library of the House.

Departments: Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to decrease the level of regulatory burden for which his Department is responsible.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 8 May 2007
	DEFRA is committed to a comprehensive programme of regulating better. Our December 2006 'Simplification Plan, Maximising Outcomes, Minimising Burdens', explains the action that is being taken across DEFRA and its agencies to reduce administrative burdens and to improve regulations. That includes removing redundant legislation, without compromising environmental standards, seeking alternatives to traditional regulation and taking a risk-based approach to enforcement and inspection.
	The Simplification Plan, which is available from the Library of the House, identifies over 130 separate initiatives that will contribute to meeting our target of reducing the administrative burden we impose on business by 25 per cent. by 2010. Those initiatives are scheduled to deliver an annual administrative burden reduction of around £159 million. They include:
	Movements of hazardous waste—simplifying paperwork for monitoring movements will deliver savings of £2.1 million.
	Whole Farm Approach—the administrative saving for farmers is estimated at £2.9 million by 2009-10 (based on current uptake).
	Replacement of the over 30 month scheme with the older cattle disposal scheme—will deliver administrative savings of £3.49 million by the end of 2008.
	Fruit and vegetable marketing standards (introduction of electronic certificates of conformity with EU marketing standards)—will achieve administrative savings of £3.22 million in 2007.
	The Game licensing review—realises administrative savings of £0.6 million per annum—starting in mid-2007.

Eggs

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking under the public sector food procurement initiative to encourage public sector bodies to purchase non-cage eggs when procuring food and meals; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The public sector food procurement initiative does not have specific guidance on purchasing eggs. Key objectives of the initiative, which apply to all food purchases, include increasing tendering opportunities for small and local food producers, raising standards of production, and addressing barriers to supply.
	DEFRA's Procurement and Contracts Division has included a model specification clause on farm assurance standards in the public sector food procurement initiative's catering toolkit. This is helping to raise the profile of animal welfare in public sector food procurement and facilitate the purchase of products from welfare friendly producers.
	In the longer term, the European Commission's "Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-10" proposes quantifiable animal welfare indicators and an EU welfare labelling scheme for products produced from high welfare protection systems. This should enable public sector purchasers to make more informed decisions.

Fishing Catches

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his estimate is of the amount of fish discarded in UK waters in each month since January 2006 by  (a) UK vessels and  (b) non-UK vessels; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	 (a) It is not possible to provide figures for discards solely in UK waters. The discard estimates used by ICES in stock assessments are carried out in relation to particular sea areas (e.g. the North Sea) rather than national waters.
	Since 2002 all EU countries have been required to collect data on discarding under Council Regulation 1543/2000, but the information is not yet compiled systematically. Quantities of discards are estimated quarterly using data collected by scientific observers aboard commercial fishing vessels. They are required to record the quantity landed and discarded, and the species and size composition of the discards each time the fishing gear is hauled. Deploying scientific observers in this manner is expensive and time consuming, with the result that it is usually only possible to sample a small proportion of the overall fishing trips in a given area. As a result it is necessary to extrapolate from the limited sampling to provide estimates for the entire fleet. Although the sampling is intended to cover a representative sample of the fleet, this does mean that the estimates of total discards are subject to uncertainty.
	Quarterly figures for discards of some important commercial species in 2006 are given in the following table. The table also includes estimates of landings and discard rates by the same fleet segments in order to provide an indication of the relative importance of discarding in each case. The figures given are as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Area  Species  Type  Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4 
			 English and Welsh registered vessels North Sea ICES sub-area IV Cod L 240.4 214.9 406.4 323.8 
			D 20.5 65.4 243.1 252.2 
			DR (%) 7.9 23.3 37.4 43.8 
			 
			   Haddock L 68.2 50.6 75.7 107.0 
			D 23.8 35.3 148.5 102.6 
			DR (%) 25.8 41.1 66.2 48.9 
			 
			   Plaice L 1,390.0 1,432.5 2,119.7 1,425.0 
			D 17.9 4.9 290.9 37.1 
			DR (%) 1.3 0.3 12.1 2.5 
			 
			   Sole L 141.6 48.9 35.7 99.9 
			D 0.1 29.4 0.0 7.6 
			DR (%) 0.1 37.5 0.0 7.1 
			 
			   Whiting L 668.8 538.2 831.9 369.0 
			D 260.4 54.7 334.9 735.3 
			DR (%) 28.0 9.2 28.7 66.6 
			 
			 Scottish registered vessels North Sea ICES sub-area IV Cod L 1,505.8 1,918.8 2,003.0 1,136.1 
			D 262.1 587.3 331.1 489.1 
			DR (%) 14.8 23.4 14.2 30.1 
			 
			   Haddock L 9,744.0 4,792.0 9,882.0 7,081.8 
			D 2,669.2 3,503.2 5,262.9 3,234.1 
			DR (%) 21.5 42.2 34.8 31.4 
			 
			   Saithe L 2,671.6 2,769.1 1,579.1 712.8 
			D 1,366.1 955.6 2,648.9 752.1 
			DR (%) 33.8 25.7 62.7 51.3 
			 
			   Whiting L 2,189.9 1,891.6 1,843.0 2,017.1 
			D 1,122.1 933.4 1,114.2 1,287.1 
			DR (%) 33.9 33.0 37.7 39.0 
			 
			 Scottish registered vessels West of Scotland ICES Division VIa Cod L 70.2 100.6 93.6 43.3 
			D 19.9 32.8 214.1 53.8 
			DR (%) 22.1 24.6 69.6 55.4 
			 
			   Haddock L 1,150.7 1,938.4 1,218.0 596.2 
			D 680.9 1,205.2 1,961.6 605.5 
			DR (%) 37.2 38.3 61.7 50.4 
			 
			   Saithe L 603.3 648.6 399.8 706.9 
			D 233.2 755.7 302.3 407.0 
			DR (%) 27.9 53.8 43.1 36.5 
			 
			   Whiting L 35.0 42.9 48.6 50.9 
			D 99.4 104.0 246.3 197.8 
			DR (%) 73.9 70.8 83.5 79.5 
			  Notes: L: Estimated landings (tonnes) D: Estimated discards (tonnes) DR: Discard rate, i.e. percentage of total catch in weight that is discarded. 
		
	
	There are a number of reasons for these discards. The mixed nature of most fisheries in EU waters means that fish of these and other species often swim together with others which fishermen have no interest in (for example because there is no market for the fish or they have no relevant quota allocation), all of which may be caught at the same time. Discards also arise from the catching of juvenile or undersized fish. In order to avoid this happening and those fish that are not required having to be discarded, UK Fisheries Departments are funding a range of work, in collaboration with the industry, looking at making the respective fishing activity more selective in terms of either species or size. The industry will be encouraged to use any such gear modifications which prove successful. The EU Commission has also made clear in its recent publication on discards that it attaches high priority to tackling this issue throughout EU waters.
	 (b) Discard estimates from other EU countries are not yet available for 2006, but these should appear later in the year. The UK is continuing to press the Commission to ensure all member states provide full sets of the relevant data. In the longer term, there are plans to develop a "Discards Atlas"—a compendium of available information from member states on discards—as a resource for fisheries science.

Food Supply

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to improve food security in Great Britain.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 8 May 2007
	My Department published Food Security and the UK: An Evidence and Analysis Paper, a wide-ranging study on Food Security, in December 2006.
	DEFRA is improving food security by promoting continuity and contingency planning in the food chain. By strengthening trading relationships, based on more open international markets and reductions in trade distorting subsidies, we increase UK food security by unlocking access to a diversity of supply sources.
	In a modern economy, the production, availability and distribution of all our food is dependent upon a secure energy and fuel supply, as well as upon other transport infrastructure. It is clear that our food chain—whatever the degree of agricultural self-sufficiency—relies on various forms of energy and that energy security is a primary concern. The Government's 'Energy Review', published in July 2006, specifically considered how our energy security can be maintained and enhanced in an uncertain world.
	The food retailers have robust and resilient business continuity plans to deal with any threat of disruption. DEFRA works closely with all parts of the industry to ensure that appropriate support is provided.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for commercial growers of GM crops if beekeepers refuse to place their hives near to GM crops.

Ian Pearson: The potential implications would depend on the type of GM crop being grown and the specific policy that beekeepers were following. No commercial GM cropping is expected here for several years at least and it is difficult to make firm assumptions about the circumstances that might arise in the future. What can be said is that GM crops will only be grown here commercially if they are approved as safe at EU level, and if there is a market for them because they offer some recognised benefit. We know that beekeepers have concerns about GM presence in honey, and we will continue to discuss the coexistence of GM and honey production with them. From a regulatory standpoint it should not generally be necessary to avoid placing hives near to GM crops, as research has shown that any GM presence in honey should always be well below the 0.9 per cent. EU labelling threshold.

Honey: East Riding

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of  (a) borage honey production,  (b) pollination services from honey bees and  (c) borage crop was in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the last period for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The information sought is not being collected and is therefore not available.

Mackerel: Fishing Catches

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the track record basis is for the figure of 257 tonnes of North sea mackerel for under 10 metre vessels in the initial allocation for 2007; and whether the records used show the extent of catches taken in areas IVa, b and c by vessels in each of those areas.

Ben Bradshaw: This allocation is not made on the basis of a track record. The allocation for 10 metre and under vessels in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) area IVa is a fixed share (300 tonnes) of the UK's opening quota for North Sea mackerel. This may change during the year following swaps with other groups. In 2007, their initial allocation was reduced by 43 tonnes to 257 tonnes as a result of a UK overfish of North sea mackerel in 2006.
	Details of end year allocations and landings of mackerel by 10 metre and under vessels from areas IVa, b and c for the last five years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Tonnes (liveweight) 
			   End year alloc. for area IVa (incl. swaps)  Landings from Northern North sea (area IVa)  End year alloc. for area IVbc (incl. swaps)  Landings from central North sea (area IVb)  Landings from Southern North sea (area IVc) 
			 2002 299 251 0 6 5 
			 2003 315 357 11 5 5 
			 2004 324 322 0 0 5 
			 2005 364 365 26 0 4 
			 2006 333 409 19 13 2

Mackerel: Fishing Catches

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any of the 257 tonnes of North sea mackerel for under 10 metre vessels is available to vessels for areas IVb and c.

Ben Bradshaw: None of the UK's opening quota for North sea mackerel, which is allocated to the 10 metre and under fishing by handline, is available to vessels operating in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas IVb or IVc. However, following representations received from fishermen in the North East and East Anglia, Fisheries Administrations have acquired 40 tonnes of North sea mackerel, through an international swap, for their use in 2007. They are continuing to explore the scope to acquire further quota. In the meantime, we will be consulting interested parties shortly on management arrangements for this fishery.

Meat: Smuggling

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of illegal meat imported into the UK in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the number of illegal meat imports because they are illegal and therefore, clandestine.
	The Government have significantly increased the amount of money available to tackle illegal imports of Products Of Animal Origin (POAO), plants and Plant Based Goods (PBG). £25 million has been spent over the past three years. This money was split between DEFRA, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shown as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   HMRC( 1)  FSA( 2)  DEFRA( 3) 
			 2003-04 4 1.5 0.5 
			 2004-05 7 2 1 
			 2005-06 7 2 1 
			 (1) HMRC: enforcement and publicity. (2) FSA: step change project with local/port health authorities. (3) DEFRA: publicity and risk.  Note: £1 million extra spend. 
		
	
	The current level of funding has been included in HMRC's allocation for future years. Funding will also continue to be available for DEFRA to examine the risks and help increase public awareness, and for the FSA for work on inland controls.
	Since April 2001, seizures of illegal meat imported into the UK have been recorded and are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  As at 1 April to 31 March each year  Seizures (kilograms) 
			 2001-02 18,955 
			 2002-03 31,301 
			 2003-04 72,734 
			 2004-05 78,664 
			 2005-06 106,135 
		
	
	The table includes seizures made by HMRC at points of entry (and by staff funded by DEFRA until 11 April 2003), those made by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) at points of entry in Northern Ireland, and those made by inland local/port health authorities. HMRC have been responsible for anti-smuggling controls on POAO into Great Britain since 11 April 2003.
	It is not possible to say whether the increase in seizures is a result of more smuggling activity. It is equally likely to be the result of greater surveillance and enforcement.

Rights of Way: Prosecutions

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted for obstructing Rights of Way in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Data extracted from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of defendants proceeded against for offences relating to obstructing Rights of Way in England and Wales, 2001 to 2005 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates1 courts for obstructing Rights of Way, England and Wales, 2001 to 2005( 1,2) 
			  Offence  Statute  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Failure to comply with order to remove obstruction. Failure to comply with order to remove obstruction after conviction. Highways Act, 1980 S.137ZA(3) as added by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 s.64 1 1 5 2 3 
			 Total  1 1 5 2 3 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Rural Areas: Low Incomes

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) English farming households and  (b) households in rural areas with incomes below the Department for Work and Pension's low income threshold.

Barry Gardiner: For the population as a whole, the Government have a preferred measure of 'low income' defined as 60 per cent. of the median equivalised income for all UK households after tax. It may be presented either before housing costs or after housing costs. The Farm Business Survey is not able to provide figures for household income net of tax so farm household incomes cannot be compared directly with the low income threshold. Instead, they are compared with a modified low income threshold defined as 60 per cent. of the England median equivalised income before tax (and before housing costs).
	This has been calculated from 2004-05 Family Resources Survey data. Table 1 shows that:
	the mean income for farm households was higher than the national mean but the median income was about the same;
	both mean and median farm incomes were lower than for the population of self-employed households;
	31 per cent. of farm households were below the modified low income threshold (gross before housing costs) in 2005-06 compared with 21 per cent. for all households and 18 per cent. for self-employed households.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Equivalised household income and low-income threshold, England 2005-06 
			   Average household income, equivalised, gross before housing costs (£ household)   
			   Mean  Median  Modified low income threshold  (£ household)  Percentage of households below low income threshold 
			 Household of principal farmers 33,900 22,700 — 31 
			 All households 30,200 23,000 13,800 21 
			 Self-employed households 38,000 27,000 — 18 
			  Sources: Farm Business Survey (England) and Family Resources Survey (2004-05) 
		
	
	Household income data for rural households are not available. However, Table 2 shows the percentage of working age people living in England in households with an income of 60 per cent. below the GB median. Figures are broken down by DEFRA's local authority (LA) classification. The classification divides LAs into the following six categories:
	Rural-80: districts with at least 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns,
	Rural-50: districts with at least 50 per cent. but less than 80 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns,
	Significant Rural: districts with more than 37,000 people or more than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns,
	Other Urban: districts with fewer than 37,000 people or less than 26 per cent. of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns,
	Large Urban: districts with either 50,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in one of 17 urban areas with a population between 250,000 and 750,000.
	Major Urban: districts with either 100,000 people or 50 per cent. of their population in urban areas with a population of more than 750,000.
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of working-age adults living in low income households in England, by LA classification 2004-05 
			   Before housing costs  After hosing costs 
			 Rural 80 11 15 
			 Rural 50 11 14 
			 Significant rural 12 16 
			 Other urban 13 18 
			 Large urban 15 20 
			 Major urban 16 22 
			  Notes: Estimates are based on 3-year averages. 2004-05 uses data for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05. Low income is defined as households with an income of below 60 per cent. of the median income for GB.  Source: DWP Family Resource Survey, 2004-05

Rural Payments Agency: Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at the Rural Payments Agency in each year between 1997 and 2006; and what the total cost was of those bonuses in each year.

Barry Gardiner: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) was formed in 2001, and we only hold data from 2003 onwards.
	The following table shows how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working in the RPA between 2003 and 2006.
	
		
			   Number of  b onus es  Amount of b onus (£) 
			 2003 5 28,845.00 
			 2004 6 51,640.60 
			 2005 7 55,062.25 
			 2006 4 33,000.00

Tree Planting

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2007,  Official Report, column 460W on tree planting, when he expects the revised English Forest Strategy to be published.

Barry Gardiner: I can confirm that the England Forestry Strategy "England's Trees, Woods and Forests" will be published in the summer.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Abdul Hameed

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations for commutation to the Pakistani authorities following the death sentence handed down by the courts there upon Abdul Hameed for the crime of blasphemy.

Geoff Hoon: We regularly raise our concerns regarding blasphemy laws and the use of the death penalty with the Pakistan authorities and will continue to do so. In December 2006, together with EU partners, we reiterated to the Government of Pakistan our concerns about the effects of blasphemy legislation and its frequent abuse. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, most recently raised this issue in correspondence with the Government of Pakistan in February.
	Although we do not usually raise individual cases, we follow closely the subject of blasphemy trials in Pakistan. Officials receive reports on blasphemy trials from human rights groups and monitor cases reported in the media. We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We, together with our EU partners, call upon all states to abolish the death penalty for all crimes and forever.

China: Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of China on animal welfare issues in China; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Barry Gardiner), raised animal welfare issues with the Chinese Government during his visit in July 2006. We continue to encourage the Chinese Government to establish laws that regulate treatment of animals, including domestic pets, and welcome the work that non-governmental organisations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals undertake with the Chinese authorities to improve standards and to build support in China for animal welfare issues. We also support a proposed EU ban on the import of domestic cat and dog fur.

China: Human Rights

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Government of China on  (a) human rights in China and  (b) the human rights of followers of Falun Gong in China.

Ian McCartney: We raise a comprehensive range of human rights issues, including the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, with the Chinese Government at the biannual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, the most recent of which was held in February. We also work bilaterally and through the EU to raise human rights concerns at every appropriate opportunity, including at senior level. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised freedom of expression with the head of the Chinese Information Office for the State Council in April. He also raised human rights with Chinese Premier Wen in September 2006. Officials regularly raise concerns at working level in Beijing.

China: Human Rights

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the numbers of  (a) religious and  (b) political prisoners in China; what her estimate is of the number of such prisoners who are followers of Falun Gong; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We do not estimate the number of religious and political prisoners in China, or the number of those who are followers of Falun Gong but continue to urge China to improve transparency of statistics. At the most recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in February, we asked the Chinese Government to confirm how many Falun Gong practitioners are currently detained. We are still awaiting a response.

Greece: Whales

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Minister for Europe had with the Greek Foreign Minister and Europe Minister on 24 April on Greece's possible membership of the International Whaling Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. Hoon) has had no discussions with Greek Ministers on the subject of whaling, but following discussions at official level with our embassy in Athens, Greece has indicated that it intends to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We welcome this move. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials remain in close contact with their Greek counterparts, and recently met representatives from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the IWC.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Government of Sudan on support for militia recruitment in Niger to fight in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: We are not currently aware of militia recruitment from Niger to fight in Darfur. We are investigating these claims.
	We are continuing to press the Government of Sudan to comply with its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to disarm all militia operating in Darfur. If they do not comply, we will move towards further sanctions and an extension of the existing UN arms embargo in the UN Security Council.

Sudan: Libya

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with Libya on the situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: We have regular contacts with the Libyan Government on Darfur. We have encouraged the Libyans to work with the African Union (AU)/UN.
	The UK's special representative for Sudan, Mr. Christopher Prentice, attended a meeting in Tripoli on 28 April on the political track of the Darfur peace process. The representatives agreed that all regional mediation initiatives should converge under AU/UN leadership; urged all parties to show serious commitment and accelerate preparations for negotiations; warned of the consequences of obstructing progress; and encouraged the AU/UN to intensify their work to agree a road-map for renewed negotiations.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she plans to take to further a ceasefire agreement in Darfur prior to the deployment of the African Union-UN peacekeeping force.

Ian McCartney: We are continuing to press the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements in Darfur to uphold their commitments to a ceasefire. The Government of Sudan reaffirmed their commitment to a ceasefire at a meeting in Tripoli of 28-29 April organised by the Libyans to discuss the political track of the Darfur peace process.
	But we have made clear that all sides to the conflict will be judged by their actions. If they do not abide by their commitments, we will move towards further sanctions and an extension of the existing UN arms embargo in the UN Security Council.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress on Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement, with particular reference to the handling of boundary disputes.

Ian McCartney: We are concerned at the slow progress being made to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The Government of National Unity need to urgently resolve a number of difficult issues including the Abyei and North/South boundary disputes. While the Abyei dispute continues, the people of Abyei are without access to basic services. The parties must establish an interim administration there immediately. The North/South Border Technical Committee needs to accelerate its work, as its conclusions affect other elements of the CPA including elections and wealth sharing.
	We continue to urge both sides to implement the CPA in full, including at meetings of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission tasked with monitoring CPA implementation. We also raised CPA implementation at the Sudan Consortium in Khartoum (19-21 March) and in the UN Security Council during discussions of the renewal of the UN mission in Sudan's mandate last month.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to renew the UN Mission in Sudan mandate.

Ian McCartney: UN Security Council Resolution 1755 renewed the UN mission in Sudan's mandate for another six months on 30 April.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans are in place to disarm janjaweed militias in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The Government of Sudan announced its plan to disarm the janjaweed in 2006. However, there has been little action since then. We are continuing to press the Government of Sudan to comply with its commitment obligation under UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to disarm the janjaweed. If they do not comply, we will move towards further sanctions and an extension of the existing UN arms embargo in the UN Security Council.

Uganda: Commonwealth

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingencies have been put in place for an alternative venue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting planned in Kampala.

Ian McCartney: The Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed on 26 April that Kampala would be the venue for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Any decision about changing the CHOGM venue would be for the Commonwealth Secretariat to take, in consultation with member states.
	We want CHOGM to take place in Uganda and for it to be a success.
	We have important concerns about the state of governance in Uganda, particularly with respect to the independence of the judiciary, political space for the opposition and recent incidences of violence. We are working with the Government of Uganda to resolve these concerns. We continue to stress that CHOGM presents a historic opportunity for Uganda to demonstrate that it is building an inclusive and pluralist society and we will continue to press for progress on the issues of concern.

Uganda: Politics and Government

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Ugandan authorities on the re-arrest of the nine People's Redemption Army suspects granted bail by the High Court; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 30 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1394W.

Uganda: Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made on the recent attacks on Asian businesses in Kampala, Uganda; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We are particularly disturbed by the racially motivated aspects of the violence by some demonstrators during street protests in Kampala on 12 April. We welcome President Museveni's statement of 13 April condemning the violence, in which he said that
	"to attack, insult or damage the property of any Ugandan or guests of Uganda is something the National Resistance Movement government will not tolerate".
	We also condemn all such violence and call on all sides to show restraint and respect the rule of law during demonstrations. We are talking to the Ugandan Government about developing a 'Code of Conduct' for running and policing demonstrations.
	We have expressed our concerns to the Ugandan Government about the importance of responsible and proportionate policing during demonstrations. Our high commissioner in Kampala raised this most recently with Foreign Minister Kutesa on 25 April.
	The violence followed demonstrations protesting about the Ugandan Government's plans to give away parts of Mabira forest to the Ugandan Sugar Corporation. Two Ugandans and one Indian national were killed and Asian businesses were attacked.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Environment: Technology

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department plans to publish proposals on environmental technology and its employment potential.

John Prescott: I am deputy chair of the Cabinet Committee on Energy and the Environment, which develops the Government's energy and environmental policies, monitors the impact on sustainable development of the Government's policies, and considers issues of climate change, security of supply and affordability of energy.
	The UK environmental goods and services industry is strong, well established and diverse, employing approximately 400,000 people in around 17,000 companies, with an estimated annual turnover of £25 billion. A recent joint report by the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 'A Study of the Emerging Markets in the Environmental Sector', estimates that this turnover will increase to more than £34 billion by 2010 and £46 billion by 2015. This is available on the DTI website at:
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/sectors/environmental/index.html.
	A Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance was established in November last year and will publish its report in the spring. It will make recommendations on how the UK can make the most of the opportunity that environmental protection can present for wealth creation and employment growth. The Commission is jointly chaired by the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and for Trade and Industry, and its membership is drawn from business, non-governmental organisations, academia, trade unions and public-sector organisations.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departments: India

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Ministers in her Department have visited India in the last 12 months; on how many occasions each Minister visited India; and what the length was of each visit.

Hilary Armstrong: This Government publish an annual list of Cabinet Ministers' travel overseas costing over £500 along with the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on 26 July 2006 and is available in the Library for the reference of members. Information for 2006-07 is currently in the process of being collected and will be published as soon as it is ready.
	All travel is in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

Departments: Sexual Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many complaints of sexual harassment have been investigated in her office in the last 12 months; and how many complaints have been upheld.

Hilary Armstrong: In order to protect the confidentiality of individuals, it is standard Government practice not to publish records relating to five or fewer individuals.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people took sick leave for stress in the Prime Minister's Office in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the total staff number this represents.

Hilary Armstrong: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office.
	In order to protect the confidentiality of individuals, it is standard Government practice not to publish records relating to five or fewer individuals.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total value in grants made by the v organisation has been to date, broken down by type of grant; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: Between May 2006 and May 2007 v has made grants totalling £13 million to projects in order to provide volunteering opportunities for over 59,000 young people. The grants provided for 22,000 short-term volunteering opportunities, 13,000 part-time, 1,200 full-time and 23,000 through volunteer development teams which work with statutory bodies to enable them to create volunteering opportunities for young people.
	A further 55,000 volunteering opportunities have been created through match funding and partnerships with the private sector.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the v organisation has spent on  (a) staff,  (b) administration,  (c) marketing,  (d) branding,  (e) communications and  (f) web design and maintenance; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member of Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 18 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1312-13W and on 1 February 2007,  Official Report, column 468W.
	Full details of the organisations expenditure will be included in its annual report, which will be published later this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were of under-age purchasers of alcohol in each year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Data extracted from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of defendants prosecuted for being under-age purchasers of alcohol from 1995 to 2005 in England and Wales is shown in the following table. Court proceedings data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.
	As an alternative to court proceedings, the offence under section 149(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 of buying or attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18 can attract a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND). The offence was added to the scheme in 2005 and there were 21 Penalty Notices issued that year. The provisional figure for 2006 shows that 70 Penalty Notices were issued during that year.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor, England and Wales 1995 to 2005( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3) 
			  Offence  Statute  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor. Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in Licensed premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(2) 25 33 31 39 38 24 21 16 29 21 21 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 and the Licensing Act 1964 were repealed by the Licensing Act 2003 which came into force on 24 November 2005. There were no prosecutions for the newly created offence under the 2003 Act of buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18 (Section 149(1)(a)) in 2005. The figure for 2005 in the above table represents the number of defendants proceeded against under the old statute ( Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(2)).

Asylum

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average processing time is for a claim by an asylum seeker or refugee with extraordinary leave to remain for indefinite leave to remain; and how many such claims are in process as of 17 April.

Liam Byrne: As of April 2007, there are just under 6,000 such applications(1)( )awaiting decision. An expanded team is working to clear these cases as quickly as possible.
	The Border and Immigration Agency does not record average processing time.
	The data are not provided under the national statistics protocols. They have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	(1) Figures rounded to the nearest 100.

Asylum

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria his Department uses for granting people political asylum in the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 April 2007
	The Border and Immigration Agency uses the criteria laid down in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as interpreted in Council Directive 2004/83/EC of the European Union. These criteria are set out in the Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No.2525) and in the Immigration Rules (in particular the Statement of changes Cm 6918 of 18 September 2006), to which decision makers have regard when granting people political asylum in the UK.
	The criteria are detailed and explained in the Asylum Policy Instruction "Assessing the Claim", which can be found on the website of the Border and Immigration Agency at
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/asylum policyinstructions/

Asylum: Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had their deportations from the UK stopped in 2006 because their destination was deemed too dangerous, broken down by country of origin.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is unavailable and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Border and Immigration Agency

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on the transition of the immigration and nationality directorate to the Border and Immigration Agency;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on the regionalisation of the Border and Immigration Agency.

Liam Byrne: Both the regionalisation of the Border and Immigration Agency and the transition to full agency status are ongoing projects which are at early stages. It is expected that both the regionalisation and transition to shadow agency status will be delivered within the current resources available to the department.

Deportation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to deportation escorts on the tightness of handcuffs on deportees; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: All immigration escorting staff are trained in the application of handcuffs.
	They are taught that handcuffs must be checked for security and comfort on application and then periodically whilst they remain in place. The handcuffs should ensure effective security but not be overly constrictive so that the skin is not pinched or circulation restricted.

Drugs: Misuse

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people reported drug use in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: The main source of estimates of self-reported drug use is the British Crime Survey (BCS) but this provides information at the national and regional level only. However, the Home Office has commissioned a research study to provide estimates of the number of problematic opiate and crack cocaine users at local and national level. The results of the first year of this three-year study estimated that there were about 593 problem drug users (probable range 447 to 907) in Bexley Drug Action Team area in 2004-05. There are no comparable estimates available for previous years but this research project will produce estimates for 2005-06 and 2006-07 in the future.

Human Trafficking

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of women who have been trafficked into the UK for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The nature of the crime makes it difficult to make an accurate assessment of the extent of the problem although intelligence suggests there has been an increase on the trafficking problem over the last two or three years. In order to understand the situation better the Serious Organised Crime Agency, along with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre is working to improve intelligence collection as a priority and this features strongly in the national intelligence requirements for 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	However, emerging findings from a Home Office research paper due to be published this year estimate that at any one time in 2003 there were in the region of 4,000 female victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK.

Illegal Immigrants

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were referred by police forces to the Border and Immigration Agency in each year between 1997 and 2006; and how many were subsequently deported in each year.

Liam Byrne: This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Immigration and asylum statistics, including removals and deportations can be found at
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Immigrants

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the number of irregular migrants who are in the UK who are in employment.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1698W.

Immigration: Applications

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects a decision to be made on the application of Satpal Ghusar (reference G1002712) for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 April 2007
	It would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases in the House, but I will write to the hon. Member on the subject that she has raised.

Manpower: Home Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which committees and working groups in his Department deal with identity cards policy.

Joan Ryan: There is no departmental committee or working group on identity cards policy. The introduction of identity cards is already Government policy and, within the Home Office, the Identity and Passport Service has responsibility for its implementation.

Offensive Weapons

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) injured and  (b) killed by knife crime offences in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The information available centrally relates to homicides by sharp instrument recorded by the police and is given in the following table. These figures are not collected below police force area level.
	
		
			  Offences currently recorded( 1)  as homicide by sharp instrument: 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			   North east region  England and Wales( 2) 
			 1997-98 15 202 
			 1998-99 8 201 
			 1999-2000 12 213 
			 2000-01 11 214 
			 2001-02 9 261 
			 2002-03 14 265 
			 2003-04 11 242 
			 2004-05 11 256 
			 2005-06 13 212 
			 (1) As at 9 October 2006: figures subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information comes to light. (2) England and Wales totals as published in 'Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2005/2006' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 02/07)

Passports: Fees and Charges

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints about the cost of passport renewal from women who have renewed their passports early owing to a name change following marriage his Department has received in each of the last five years.

Joan Ryan: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not keep records in such a way as to be able to extract this information without incurring disproportionate cost. Complaints are recorded in particular categories, each covering a range of issues. There is not a specific category for women who have complained about the cost of renewing passports early owing to change of name following marriage. However, the IPS receives regular representations on this subject. When fees are next reviewed the IPS will discuss with HM Treasury whether the rules on Government fees and charges would permit some reduction of the fee in these circumstances.
	The IPS received 8,551 complaints in total in the financial year 2005-06, which represents 0.13 per cent. of the total business.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign citizens who had previously been convicted of a crime in their country of origin were subsequently convicted of  (a) burglary,  (b) supplying a controlled substance,  (c) rape and  (d) murder in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold comprehensive records of the nationalities of offenders.

Prisoners: Qualifications

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners in prison establishments in England and Wales achieved  (a) GCSE,  (b) post-GCSE and  (c) third level qualifications in each of the last six years; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of prisoners achieving such qualifications.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not collected centrally. However, following the introduction of the Learning and Skills Council-led delivery arrangements for offender learning in England from 31 July 2006, data on prisoner achievement will increasingly become available for adults, young offenders and juveniles in custody.
	The Government's proposals for improving the education of offenders are set out in the "Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment: Next Steps" document which was published on 13 December 2006. Copies of the document were sent to all Members of Parliament on the day of publication.

Television: Licensing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue fines from unpaid television licences generated in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Vernon Coaker: Court proceedings data are collected and published by calendar year.
	A total of £11.1 million was ordered by the courts to be paid by way of fines given for offences of television licence evasion in 2004 in England and Wales where a fine was the principal disposal and this offence the principal offence for which the persons concerned were dealt with. A total of £14.4 million was similarly ordered to be paid in 2005.
	Figures for 2006 will be available in the autumn of this year.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.
	The collection of fine amounts centrally is not sufficiently detailed to show how many of these total sums were actually paid.

Theft: Driver Information Systems

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many thefts of satellite navigation systems for cars took place in  (a) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood,  (b) each London borough and  (c) England in the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the value of stolen satellite navigation systems for cars over the last three years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Figures for theft of satellite navigation systems are not collected centrally and no estimate has been made of the total value of those stolen.
	Anecdotal evidence from a number of police forces, including the Metropolitan Police, is that this type of theft is a growing problem in some force areas. To help combat it, the Home Office met a number of the main manufacturers in 2005 and, as a result, some of the manufacturers fast-tracked the introduction of security features into new models. The Home Office also produced a crime prevention advice leaflet aimed at motorists showing them the simple steps they could take to help prevent them becoming victims of this type of crime. This leaflet is available on the Home Office website and is intended for use by police and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the insurance claim against Bedfordshire Police in relation to the fire at the Yarl's Wood detention centre in February 2002 to be settled; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter to be settled between the insurance company and Bedfordshire Police.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Prescription Drugs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules are applied at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre on permitting detainees to take their medication into the centre when they are detained; and on what basis Miss Nathalie Ketchanon was refused permission to do so.

Liam Byrne: All medication is assessed by the centre GP as to the suitability of allowing the medication to be held in possession by the detainee. Where it is decided that the medication should be held in the healthcare suite the detainee is notified and advised to attend the pharmacy at the appropriate times for dispensing.
	I will write to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South regarding Miss Ketchanon.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency: Tribunals

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many tribunals were operated by the Child Support Agency (CSA) in each of the last five years; how much was spent on those tribunals in each year; how many appeals were received by the CSA in each year; and how much was spent on processing appeals in each year.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 29 March 2007
	 The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 9 May 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many tribunals were operated by the Child Support Agency (CSA) in each of the last five years; how much was spent on those tribunals in each year; how many appeals were received by the CSA in each year; and how much was spent on processing appeals in each year.
	Please find attached a table detailing the number of tribunals operated by the Tribunal Service on behalf of the Child Support Agency and the number of appeals received by the Agency.
	Unfortunately the information requested in respect of the cost of tribunal hearings and the cost of processing appeals is unavailable in the format requested.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Appeals received by Child Support Agency and referred to the Tribunal Service 
			   Appeals received by the CSA  CSA appeals referred to Tribunal Service 
			 2001-02 9,800 5,300 
			 2002-03 10,900 5,100 
			 2003-04 8,600 4,200 
			 2004-05 8,000 4,200 
			 2005-06 8,000 4,400 
			  Note: Appeals and referrals rounded to nearest 100.

Departments: Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many grievance procedures have been initiated in his Department in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: No information is held on the number of grievance procedures that have been initiated in the Department for Work and Pensions in the last year. The Department has recently introduced a new IT resource management system. In the next 12 months it will record details of the number of grievance procedures initiated across the Department and will be able to provide information centrally.

Departments: Energy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) instructions are issued to staff in his Department and  (b) technical procedures are in place to shut down computers at night.

Anne McGuire: When joining the Department, staff are told how to shut down personal computers as part of their initial training. Further advice is also available on the Department's intranet site and from local IT support staff. Computers are shut down each evening by the member of staff who uses them.

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The Department is committed to meeting cross-Government sustainable operations targets which include commitments to increase recycling rates and the mandatory minimum environmental procurement product standards for paper.
	 (a) Photocopying paper purchased is used in both photocopiers and office printers and therefore a separate figure for photocopiers is not available.
	
		
			   Usage (Percentage) 
			 2004-05 3 
			 2005-06 (1)Over 90 
			 2006-07 96 
			 (1 )This followed a change of supplier, product and price and the mandatory use of recycled paper. 
		
	
	 (b) Printed publications (this includes Department's claim packs forms and leaflets): from June 2007 all existing contracts for the supply of printed materials will cease and a new contract for the supply of Print and Associated Services will commence. This contract will meet all the sustainable operations targets for the supply of printed materials. All paper used, including paper with no recycled content, is derived from sustainable sources.
	
		
			   Usage (Percentage) 
			   100  per cent. con tent( 1)  50  per cent.  content( 2) 
			 2004-05 0 33 
			 2005-06 32 13 
			 2006-07 57 10 
			 (1 )Made from up to 100 per cent. post consumer waste with full Blue Angel accreditation. No bleaching is used in production and the energy supply used by the mill is also 100 per cent. green. (2 )Made from up to 50 per cent. post consumer waste and virgin fibre.

Departments: Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on mystery shopping exercises in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: Each of the Department for Work and Pensions' agencies is responsible for operating its own mystery shopping programme. The most recent available information for Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service are in the following tables.
	
		
			  Jobcentre Plus expenditure on mystery-shopping programme s 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 676,828 
			 2004-05 693,174 
			 2005-06 471,368 
			  Note: Figures for 2006-07 are not yet available. 
		
	
	
		
			  The Pension Service expenditure on mystery-shopping programmes 
			   £ 
			 2004-05 334,490 
			 2005-06 291,400 
			 2006-07 268,000 
		
	
	The Disability and Carers Service (DCS) has not previously used a mystery shopping programme. The DCS tested a mystery shopping programme between January and March 2007. The programme proved successful and will be fully rolled out from April 2007.
	For the period January 2007 to 31 March 2007, DCS's expenditure was £22,120.
	The Child Support Agency has not had a mystery shopping programme since prior to 2001. No information is available for the expenditure prior to 2001.

Departments: Telephone Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all customer helplines operated by his Department are freephone numbers.

Anne McGuire: No.
	Most DWP helplines use 0845 numbers. The cost of contacting 0845 numbers varies depending on the time the customer calls, the contract they have with their network provider, and whether calls are made from residential lines or mobile lines. BT advises that the most popular tariff used by residential lines is BT Customer Option 1 or 2. Under these schemes, the cost of peak time calls to 0845 numbers is 2.55 pence per minute.
	Customers using mobile telephones are charged at their network provider's tariff for 0845 calls and may incur a charge even when dialling an 0800 number depending on the contract they have with their network provider.
	If a customer indicates that they are concerned about the cost of a call, a call back will always be offered.
	A breakdown for the Department's helplines and call rates is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Helpline  Call rate 
			 Jobcentre Plus Jobseeker Direct 0845 Local rate 
			 Jobcentre Plus Employer Direct 0845 Local rate 
			 Jobcentre Plus First Contact (making a claim) 0845 Local rate. Currently an 0845 number but this is being replaced by an 0800 number. All First Contact, Contact Centres will have moved to the 0800 number by the end of May 2007. 
			 National Benefit Fraud Hotline 0800 Free to landline callers. 
			 Disability Careers Service Helpline 0845 Local rate. 
			 Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 Free to landline callers. 
			 Child Support Agency National Helpline 0845 Local rate. 
			 The Pension Service All the following services are provided by different 0845 local rate telephone lines: General enquiries Change of circumstances Claims for State Pension Pension forecasts Winter fuel queries Welsh Language Line 
			 Pension Credit Application Line 0800 Free to landline callers. 
			 International Pension Centre 0191 standard rate number for those who live, or have previously lived overseas. 
			 Debt Management Debt Management does not operate a "helpline" as such but access to debt centres is via an 0845 local rate number.

Departments: Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1064W, on departments: training, if he will list the 20 most expensive training courses provided to Ministers and civil servants in his Department in 2006; and what the cost was of each.

Anne McGuire: Considerable effort and resources would need to be used on interrogating the staff information system in order to obtain information that could be used to identify the 20 most expensive training courses provided to Ministers and civil servants. Attendance at external events will have been recorded by individuals on their learning history. This information cannot be accessed centrally. Obtaining this level of information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effect of the 2007-08 Budget on the Financial Assistance Scheme.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave for question number 5 to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) on 23 April 2007.

Industrial Health and Safety

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of trade union safety representatives on workplace safety; and if he will assess the merits of confirming the role and rights of trade union safety representatives in law.

Anne McGuire: Several studies have looked at the effect of trade union safety representatives on workplace safety, including one commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive. Overall, the evidence suggests that trade union safety representatives make a positive contribution to improving health and safety standards in the workplace.
	Ministers look to the Health and Safety Commission for advice on these matters. I understand it is currently looking at measures to support consultation and involvement of workers in health and safety, including better guidance. It will make recommendations to Ministers if appropriate.
	The Government strongly support the efforts and dedication of all health and safety representatives in helping to make their workplaces healthier and safer.

Pension Credit

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much funding went unclaimed in  (a) pension credit and  (b) winter fuel allowance in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many pensioners who were eligible for  (a) pension credit and  (b) winter fuel allowance did not claim it in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many pensioners in Islwyn constituency received pension credit in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many pensioners in Islwyn constituency claimed the winter fuel allowance in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: Latest estimates of the amount of pension credit left unclaimed and the number of pensioners who were eligible but not claiming pension credit can be found in the DWP publication series entitled: "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". Copies of the annual reports are held in the Library.
	The vast majority of winter fuel payments are made automatically without the need to claim as we hold sufficient information on our benefit systems. It is not possible to say how many people may be eligible for a winter fuel payment and are not receiving it. This is because not everyone aged 60 or over will be eligible for a payment. In order to assess whether a person is eligible we need to establish their circumstances and this can only be done once they have contacted the Department. A person may be ineligible for various reasons such as serving a custodial sentence, in hospital receiving free in-patient treatment for more than 52 weeks, or subject to immigration control.
	All winter fuel payment information for past years is in the Library and is updated yearly. A letter was issued to all MPs in January 2005 to inform them that the information would be published and updated each year.
	Pension credit was introduced in October 2003, so the following table shows the number of household recipients of pension credit in Islwyn constituency for 2003 to 2006.
	
		
			  Household recipients of pension credit in Islwyn constituency, 2003 - 06 
			   Household recipients 
			 November 2003 2,800 
			 August 2004 3,580 
			 August 2005 3,760 
			 August 2006 3,830 
			  Notes: 1. The number of households in receipt are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. Data 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of winter fuel payments made in the Islwyn constituency over each of the last five years. Figures for winter 2006-07 are not yet available but we expect the number to be similar to that for winter 2005-06.
	
		
			  Islwyn constituency 
			   Payments made 
			 2001-02 13,740 
			 2002-03 14,030 
			 2003-04 13,850 
			 2004-05 13,660 
			 2005-06 13,750 
			  Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: Information directorate 100 per cent. data.

Pension Credit: West Yorkshire

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Warley constituency receive pension credit.

James Purnell: The answer is set out in the following table;
	
		
			  Household recipients of pension credit in each ward in Warley constituency ,  August 2006 
			  Ward name  Household recipients 
			 Abbey 540 
			 Bristnall 965 
			 Langley 905 
			 Old Warley 785 
			 St. Pauls 795 
			 Smethwick 1,005 
			 Soho and Victoria 590 
			 Warley Constituency 5,590 
			  Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest five and totals may not sum as a result. 2. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries. 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Pension Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to extend the home visiting facility of Pension Service local teams to the under 60 age group; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Pension Service Local Service is currently running a feasibility pilot in the West Midlands area in partnership with the Disability and Carers Service to investigate the possibility of extending the face to face service to working age customers.
	The pilot is in its early stages and initial evaluation results are anticipated at the beginning of June 2007.

Pension Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Pension Service local team staff were involved in the home visiting service in each of the last four years; and what he expects this proportion to be at 31 March 2008.

James Purnell: In the last four years, 100 per cent. of Pension Service local service staff were involved in the home visiting service, through face-to-face contact with our customers.
	Support is provided to the local service from a centrally based national team.
	The proportion of local service staff involved in the home visiting service will not change in 2007-08.

Pension Service: Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in the Pension Service local teams in each year since 2002.

James Purnell: No data are available for 2002-03 and 2003-04 as national figures were not maintained for this period.
	Information since 2004-05 is in the following table.
	
		
			   Total number of loc al service cluster staff (whole- time equivalent) 
			 2004-05 2,515 
			 2005-06 2,532 
			 2006-07 2,317

Pensioners: Overseas Residence

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take action to ensure that people living abroad and eligible for UK pensions receive increases in pensions in line with domestic pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: We have no plans to change the current arrangements whereby the UK state pension is uprated for UK pensioners living overseas.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information is given to pensioners on their entitlement to benefits upon reaching the age of retirement.

James Purnell: Information on entitlement to benefits upon reaching state pension age (currently 60 for women and 65 for men) is provided in a number of ways:
	A state pension claim pack is sent out to all customers, four months and four days before their state pension age. This includes information on pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	Customers who claim their state pension by telephone are now also able to claim any entitlements they may have to pension credit, housing benefit and/or council tax benefit in the same call.
	Winter fuel payments are made to people aged 60 or over (men and women). Over 99 per cent. of the payments are made automatically without the need to claim. Some people who are not in receipt of a benefit administered by DWP need to claim. Each year we send claim forms automatically to everyone who we know from departmental records will be aged 60 by the end of the qualifying week and for whom we have a current address. An extensive publicity campaign begins in July and includes advertisements in both regional and national newspapers.

Pensions: Index Linking

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of what the cost to the Government would have been in each year had pensions been linked to earnings rather than prices since 1997.

James Purnell: The estimates are in the following table.
	
		
			   Basic state pension cost (£ billion) 
			 1998 0.1 
			 1999 0.5 
			 2000 1.3 
			 2001 1.6 
			 2002 2.4 
			 2003 2.7 
			 2004 2.8 
			 2005 2.9 
			 2006 3.4 
			 2007 3.8 
			  Note: Figures are net in cash terms, are rounded to the nearest million and include UK and overseas pensions   Source:  DWP modelling. 
		
	
	The earnings link will be restored to the basic state pension. The objective is that this will be done, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, in 2012 but in any event at the latest by the end of the next Parliament.
	By 2050 the amount of the basic state pension will roughly double in value compared with current policies.

Remploy: Closures

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what closures of Remploy sites are planned; how many  (a) employees and  (b) agency workers there are at each site; and what he expects the costs to be of the closures;
	(2)  which aspects of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on Remploy he plans to implement;
	(3)  what deadlines have been set to turn around Remploy sites running at a financial loss; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: In my statement on 19 July 2006 I said I would be asking the board of Remploy to undertake the preliminary work to bring forward later this year a five-year restructuring plan with proposals both to modernise the business and to support substantially larger numbers of disabled people into work. It is currently working on that plan.

Remploy: Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes there have been to senior management salaries at Remploy since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: As Remploy is a non-departmental public body, the senior management salaries are subject to a pay remit process, which requires that pay increases are within Treasury limits for public sector pay. Remploy pay remits require the approval of the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Treasury. The Remploy senior management pay remit for 2007-08 is currently being considered.
	Remploy no longer holds information on senior management salaries prior to April 2002. The agreed senior management pay remit increases since 2002 are in the following table.
	
		
			  Senior management pay remit increases 
			   Percentage increase 
			 2002-03 2.5 
			 2003-04 2.5 
			 2004-05 2.62 
			 2005-06 3.21 
			 2006-07 3.5

Sick Leave

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of employees returned to work following an absence caused by illness or injury lasting up to  (a) two weeks,  (b) one month,  (c) three months and  (d) six months in the last period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The available information is contained in the following table. It was obtained from the computer systems that managers use to record absences. The figures are for the period 1 January 2006- 31 December 2006.
	The table shows two sets of figures broken down into length of absence where the employee returned to work during the period. The first shows all recorded sickness absences, while the second shows absences recorded as injury and poisoning. It is not possible to show the number and percentage of employees returning from sickness absences of different durations because some employees have had more than one absence during the period; therefore, the figures show the number of absences in each category.
	Absences relating to injury are recorded against a category of 'Injury and Poisoning'. This includes, for example, the toxic effects of alcohol or drugs, any surgical procedures, and road traffic accidents. It is not possible separately to identify cases relating to injuries.
	
		
			   All sickness absences  Absences due to injury and poisoning 
			  Absence duration  Number of absences  Percentage of total absences  Number of absences  Percentage of total absences 
			 Up to two weeks 183,779 90.61 3,185 78.53 
			 Up to one month 7,966 3.93 308 7.59 
			 Up to three months 8,274 4.08 445 10.97 
			 Up to six months 2,229 1.10 84 2.07 
			 Over six months 583 0.29 34 0.84 
			 Total absences 202,831 100.00 4,056 100.00

Winter Fuel Payments: Elderly

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual cost of raising the winter fuel allowance for the over-80s by £25 per annum.

James Purnell: The winter fuel payment has risen from £20 in winter 1997-98 to £200 from winter 2000-01 and to £300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 2003-04. The estimated annual cost of raising the winter fuel payment by £25 for people aged 80 or over in 2007-08 is around £50 million.

Winter Fuel Payments: Elderly

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners aged over 80 years by £25 per year.

James Purnell: holding answer 3 May 2007
	 The winter fuel payment has risen from £20 in winter 1997-98 to £200 from winter 2000-01 and to £300 for those aged 80 or over from winter 2003-04. The estimated annual cost of raising the winter fuel payment by £25 for people aged 80 or over in 2007-08 is around £50 million.

Winter Fuel Payments: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Tamworth constituency claimed the winter fuel allowance in each year since its introduction.

James Purnell: Information relating to winter fuel payments for the winters of 1997-98 and 1998-99 is not available. The information from winter 1999-2000 is in the following table. Figures for winter 2006-07 are not yet available but we expect the number to be similar to that for 2005-06.
	
		
			  Tamworth constituency 
			   Payments made 
			 1999-2000 12,520 
			 2000-01 14,480 
			 2001-02 14,850 
			 2002-03 15,230 
			 2003-04 15,710 
			 2004-05 15,940 
			 2005-06 16,460 
			  Notes:  1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.   Source:  Information directorate 100 per cent data.

HEALTH

Acute Beds: Greater London

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds per 100,000 population there were in each primary care trust in London in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available. However, information on the number of acute beds per 100,000 population in each former London strategic health authority (SHA) from 2002-03 to 2005-06 is shown in the following table. These SHAs now collectively form NHS London. Information prior to 2002-03 is not available as SHAs did not exist.
	
		
			  Acute beds per 100,000 population, strategic health authorities (SHA) in London, 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			   Acute beds  Population  Acute beds per 1000,000 population 
			  2002-03
			 North West London 3,886 1,806,532 215 
			 North Central London 3,249 1,213,768 268 
			 North East London 3,430 1,527,794 225 
			 South East London 3,174 1,515,226 210 
			 South West London 2,658 1,307,919 203 
			 
			  2003-04
			 North West London 3,903 1,814,671 215 
			 North Central London 3,376 1,220,221 277 
			 North East London 3,470 1,530,792 227 
			 South East London 3,164 1,511,793 209 
			 South West London 2,763 1,310,391 211 
			 
			  2004-05
			 North West London 4,012 1,834,066 219 
			 North Central London 3,300 1,227,957 269 
			 North East London 3,392 1,531,427 221 
			 South East London 3,102 1,514,122 205 
			 South West London 2,870 1,321,018 217 
			 
			  2005-06
			 North West London 3,870 1,871,187 207 
			 North Central London 3,271 1,243,437 263 
			 North East London 3,409 1,542,634 221 
			 South East London 2,941 1,524,646 193 
			 South West London 2,845 1,335,822 213 
			  Notes: Population data are mid-year resident population estimates based on the 2001 census.  Source: Department of Health form KH03 and Office for National Statistics

Ambulance Services: Rural Areas

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of experienced ambulance control room staff in saving lives and minimising risks to patients in rural areas.

Andy Burnham: No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of experienced ambulance control room staff in saving lives and minimising risks to patients in rural areas.
	However, national health service ambulance trust control room staff play an important role in ensuring that responses to 999 calls are dispatched promptly, that calls are prioritised accurately and that callers receive the advice and reassurance that they need. For example, call handlers can give callers advice on dealing with childbirth, uncontrolled bleeding or resuscitation while they wait for help to arrive. This advice is routinely provided no matter where the control room or the caller is located.

Asthma

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans she has for the provision of specialist asthma healthcare staff and care plans;
	(2)  what studies her Department has undertaken of the variations in rates of admission for asthma attacks across primary care trusts;
	(3)  what steps her Department is taking  (a) to improve preventative provision for asthma and  (b) to reduce the need for asthma-related emergency admissions.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The Department published "Supporting People with Long-term Conditions: An NHS and Social Care Model" in January 2005. The purpose of the model is to improve the health and quality of life of people with long-term conditions, including asthma, by providing:
	early detection;
	good control to minimise the effects of the disease and reduce complications;
	more effective medicines management to reduce the number of crises; and
	promoting independence by empowering patients allowing them to take control of their lives.
	The new general medical services contract was launched in February 2003. The contract includes a specific quality indicator for treatment and care of people with asthma based on:
	a register of patients diagnosed with, and prescribed drugs for, asthma;
	a record of patients aged 8 years and over where diagnosis confirmed by spirometry or peak flow measurement; and
	a record of asthma review within past 15 months.
	We are not aware of the Department's having undertaken any studies of the variation in admission rates across primary care trusts.
	It is the responsibility of local health bodies to ensure they have adequate staff with the skills necessary to meet the health needs of their local population.

Brain Tumours

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been provided by her Department for research into brain tumours in 2006-07.

Caroline Flint: The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to brain tumour in 2006-07 is £868,000. This figure includes expenditure in two areas where the focus is on paediatric oncology as a whole. It excludes expenditure from the research and development allocations made annually to NHS providers. That information is not held centrally.

Brain Tumours

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the brain tumour studies being supported by her Department; how much funding has been provided to each study by her Department; and how many  (a) children and  (b) adults are taking part in these studies.

Caroline Flint: The information available is shown in the table.
	
		
			  National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) supported brain tumour studies—Adult brain tumour patients 
			  Title  Research Funder  Status  Recruitment 
			 BR12: Temozolomide vs PCV chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma Cancer Research UK (CR-UK)/Medical Research Council (MRC) Recruiting 351 
			 BR 14: A randomised controlled trial of temozolomide as adjuvant and/or concurrent treatment in anaplastic (WHO grade III) glioma European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/Schering Plough In set-up 0 
			 Primary chemotherapy with temozolomide vs. radiotherapy in patients with low grade gliomas with stratification for genetic 1p loss: a phase III study EORTC/ Schering Plough In set-up 0 
			 No Radiotherapy versus Whole Brain Radiotherapy for 1 to 3 Brain Metastases from Solid Tumor after Surgical Resection or Radiosurgery. A Randomized Phase III Trial EORTC In set-up 0 
			 Phase III Trial comparing Conventional Adjuvant Temozolomide with Dose Intensive Temozolomide in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma EORTC In set-up 0 
			 BR11: Adjuvant procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine chemotherapy in patients with highly anaplastic oligodendroglioma MRC Closed, in follow-up 368 
			 Multicentre, Phase II Study of Carboplatin pre-irradiation in patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme following biospy  Closed, in follow-up 25 (closed early) 
			  Childhood brain tumour patients
			 Hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HART) with chemotherapy (cisplatin, CCNU, vincristine) for metastatic (M1-3) Medulloblastoma CR-UK Recruiting 18 
			 A Prospective randomised controlled trial of hyperfractionated versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in standard risk medulloblastoma CR-UK Recruiting 18 
			 Phase II study of the combination of Cisplatin + Temozolomide in malignant glial tumours in children and adolescents at diagnosis or in relapse CR-UK Recruiting 15 
			 Cooperative Multicentre Study For Children And Adolescents With Low Grade Glioma CR-UK Recruiting 111 
			 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Brain Tumours CR-UK Recruiting 48 
			 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Brain Stem Tumours CR-UK Recruiting 7 
			 An in depth study over time on the effect of child and parent factors on the perceived quality of life of children treated for a brain tumour Samantha Dickson Research Trust Brain Tumour UK Recruiting 47 
			 Phase I Studies of TARCEVA (erlotinib Hydrochloride, OSI-774) as Single Agent in Children with Refractory and Relapsed Malignant Brain Tumours and in Combination with Irradiation in Newly Diagnosed Brain Stem Glioma CR-UK Recruiting 0 
			 CNS 1992 04 (Infant Brain Tumours) Use of high-field strength MR derived biomarkers in prostate cancer: Potential for improved cancer staging and prognostication CR-UK Closed, in follow-up 213 
			 Study of Paediatric Low Grade Gliomas CR-UK Closed, in follow-up 798 
			 Treatment of children with newly diagnosed diffuse pontine gliomas using conventional radiotherapy and high dose tamoxifen CR-UK Closed, in follow-up 31 
			 SIOP Intracranial Germ Cell TumoursI CR-UK Closed, in follow-up 137 
			 Comparison of Hair regrowth in children with localised PNETs of the posterior fossa (medulloblastoma) treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy CR-UK Closed, in follow-up 75 
		
	
	The Department's allocation to the NCRN in 2006-07 is £14.5 million. It is not possible to say what part of this support funding is spent on individual projects.
	Details of a number of other non-NCRN studies supported from the allocations made by the Department to national health service research active organisations can be found on the National Research Register at
	www.dh.gov.uk/research

Care Homes

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) care homes and  (b) care home beds there were in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Information for the Jarrow constituency is not centrally available.
	Table 1 shows the number of care homes open and places available in England, the North East region, and South Tyneside and Gateshead area for adults aged 18 and over, at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001. Data for 2002 are not available. Data for 2001 are not comparable to 2003 data.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of care homes( 1)  open and places available for adults aged 18 and over, at 31 March, 1997 to 2001 
			   England  North East region  South Tyneside and Gateshead( 2) 
			   Homes  Places  Homes  Places  Homes  Places 
			 1997 28,800 534,400 1,300 31,700 170 4,100 
			 1998 29,000 553,500 1,400 34,000 190 4,500 
			 1999 28,700 546,200 1,400 33,400 190 4,200 
			 2000 28,300 539,200 1,400 32,800 180 4,200 
			 2001 27,500 528,000 1,400 31,100 190 4,100 
			 (1 )Includes residential homes, nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals/clinics. (2 )Nursing care relates to Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority; residential care relates to Gateshead and South Tyneside councils with social services responsibilities. Data for South Tyneside alone was not collected until 2003, with the establishment of the National Care Standards Commission and later the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to register and inspect social care providers.  Source: RA and RH(N) returns 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of care homes and places registered in England, the North East region and South Tyneside for adults aged 18 and over, at 31 March for the years 2003 to 2007.
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of care homes( 1)  open and places available for adults aged 18 and over, at 31 March, 2003 to 2007 
			   England  North East region  South Tyneside 
			   Homes  Places  Homes  Places  Homes  Places 
			 2003(2) 20,038 434,637 1,017 25,899 53 1,491 
			 2004 19,502 445,732 1,014 26,405 52 1,519 
			 2005 19,033 440,886 1,003 26,658 54 1,669 
			 2006 18,718 441,335 962 25,690 49 1,561 
			 2007 18,577 441,958 951 25,866 47 1,492 
			 (1) Includes care homes with nursing, adult placement, non-medical and personal care. (2) Excludes some local authority homes, which were open but not registered.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database. Data as at 26 April 2007.

Community Service Volunteers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for delivering funds to the community service volunteers' capital volunteering project which her Department has allocated.

Ivan Lewis: The Department was responsible for allocating resource to community services volunteers for the capital volunteering project in line with Treasury approved "invest to save" bid.

Consanguineous Relationships

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many leaflets aimed at members of the public in consanguineous relationships who intend to have children were produced in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what information her Department provides to GPs and other medical professionals on how they should advise patients of the risks associated with consanguineous sexual relationships.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not produce leaflets for members of the public on this issue, nor does it collect data on leaflets that may be produced by other sources.
	A leaflet on genetic risk and consanguineous marriage has recently been produced as part 2 of a collaborative project by the London IDEAS genetic knowledge park and the Genetic Interest Group (GIG, a national alliance of patient organisations) that aims to address the lack of availability of multilingual information on genetic disorders and risk. However, this leaflet is for use by specialised genetics services as an adjunct to genetic counselling. It is currently available in English, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi and Turkish. It is one of a series dealing with genetic disorders and risk.
	The Department does not provide guidance for general practitioners or other health professionals on the issue of the risks associated with consanguineous sexual relationships. In general, guidance on issues of practice is a matter for the appropriate professional or regulatory bodies. In addition, local national health service organisations may decide to issue guidance to help practitioners deal with issues which are of particular relevance to their local population.
	The Human Genetics Commission supports the need for proper provision of education and information about marriage within a kinship group. This should entail access to counselling and support, preferably in the individual's or couple's preferred language, and a no-blame approach that enables at-risk couples to come forward for testing. Those wanting specific advice on their individual risk should consult a clinical geneticist or genetic counsellor in their local NHS regional genetics centre.
	From later this year the curriculum for trainee general practitioners will include learning objectives to equip them to refer patients at risk of genetic conditions appropriately and to appreciate the importance of considering a patient's cultural and religious background and beliefs concerning inheritance in providing care. These have been developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners in partnership with the NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre, which is funded by the Department.

Dental Services: Manpower

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) the Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England are not registered with a dentist.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available in the form requested. Under the new arrangements for national health service dental services, patients do not need to be formally registered with a practice to receive NHS services.
	Information is available on the number of patients who received care or treatment from an NHS dentist in the last 24 months. The most recent information is as at 31 December 2006. The information shows the numbers of patients receiving services in each primary care trust and strategic health authority area and in England as a whole. It could be made available by constituency only at disproportionate cost.
	This information is contained in sheet F2, within annex 3, "NHS Dental Statistics for England Q3: 31 December 2006". This report was published by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, and has been placed in the Library.
	The report is also available online at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/dental06q3/Quarterly %20Publication%20Q3%202006-7%20Annex%203.xls

Departments: Consultants

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants and contractors were employed by her Department in each year since 1997; and what the cost was to the public purse.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect information that would identify the numbers of consultants engaged for the years requested. Contracts do not usually specify the precise numbers of consultants and the numbers can vary during a contract.
	Departmental expenditure on external consultancy services is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £000 
			 1997-98 11,911 
			 1998-99 6,179 
			 1999-2000 8,726 
			 2000-01 6,859 
			 2001-02 7,056 
			 2002-03 7,266 
			 2003-04 10,036 
			 2004-05 12,800 
			 2005-06 (1)6,000 
			 2006-07 (2)6,532 
			 (1) The 2005-06 and 2006-07 spend is lower because the Department rectified some miscoding against the expenditure category codes to provide a more accurate figure of external consultancy spend. (2) Spend up to end of February 2007. 
		
	
	The Department has only recently started to record contractors on its Human Resources Information System, so figures have only become available during the last year.
	The number of contractors working for the Department on 1 January 2007 was 223.

Departments: Press

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reorganisations of her Department's press office have taken place since May 2005.

Ivan Lewis: One reorganisation of the Department's press office has taken place since May 2005.
	This involved reorganising the teams of press officers to establish a desk dedicated solely to answering incoming calls and queries from the media, separate from specialist desks providing proactive media relations handling for Ministers.
	The rationale behind this reorganisation was to provide a faster and more efficient service for the media and Ministers.

Doctors: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) practising and  (b) former doctors are appointed as advisers to her Department.

Ivan Lewis: The answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fertility: Stem Cells

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been  (a) funded and  (b) carried out by her Department on the use of bone marrow stem cells to treat male infertility; when her Department last undertook an evidence review on the issue that drew on (i) UK and (ii) international research; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The United Kingdom Government have maintained a consistent policy of support for stem cell research in this country. While the Department has not funded or carried out any research on the use of bone marrow stem cells to treat male fertility or undertaken any type of review of the issue, we are aware of recently published findings for pre-clinical research on this issue and await the results of further trials with interest.

Food Labelling

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many investigations the Food Standards Agency carried out into falsely labelled food in each year since 2006; and what the cost was of the investigations.

Caroline Flint: Investigations into falsely labelled food are not carried out directly by the Food Standards Agency. The agency has overall policy responsibility for food labelling, but the enforcement of the legislation is undertaken by food enforcement officers who are employed by local authorities.

Health Services: Barnet

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by  (a) Barnet Health Authority in 1997-98 and  (b) Barnet Primary Care Trust in 2005-06 on their drugs and pharmaceutical budget; how much is estimated to be spent in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The following table shows the total expenditure on drugs and pharmaceutical services for Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT). Figures have been provided for 1998-99 (which is the earliest year for which the data exists for the individual organisations) and for 2005-06.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Barnet health authority  Barnet PCT 
			   1998-99  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Drugs or prescribing costs 10,292 47,061 46,057 
			 Pharmaceutical services 791 97 n/a 
			  Notes:  Information for individual national health service bodies is not available prior to 1998-99. The majority of expenditure on pharmaceutical services was accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by commissioners. Therefore this cannot be included in the answer.   Sources:  Audited accounts of Barnet Health Authority 1998-99. Audited summarisation schedules of Barnet PCT 2005-06. 
		
	
	The second table shows the Prescription Pricing Division estimate of final year spending on primary care prescribing in 2006-07 for Barnet PCT. This covers prescriptions issued in England. Prescriptions written in hospitals or clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals and private prescriptions are not included in this figure.
	
		
			   PCT code  PCT name  Total actual cost (£) 
			 2005-06 5A9 Barnet PCT 44,684,957 
			 2006-07 (part year April to January) 5A9 Barnet PCT (1)38,562,545 
			 (1) Part year spend. The Prescription Pricing Division estimate final year spending in primary care prescribing in 2006-07 for 5A9 Barnet is £46,057,219.

Health Research

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to implement the recommendations of the Cooksey report on health research funding; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, is taking forward the recommendations of the Cooksey review jointly and with other stakeholders. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has invited Professor John Bell to be the interim chair of the new Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR). The interim oversight group for OSCHR met for the first time in January. In March, OSCHR submitted to the Treasury a single funding bid for health research as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

Hospitals: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capital expenditure on York hospital was in each year since 1992.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Capital expenditure by York hospitals national health service trust 
			   £000 
			 1992-93 5,791 
			 1993-94 6,028 
			 1994-95 7,456 
			 1995-96 8,841 
			 1996-97 2,708 
			 1997-98 1,457 
			 1998-99 3,185 
			 1999-2000 2,778 
			 2000-01 6,571 
			 2001-02 4,159 
			 2002-03 10,232 
			 2003-04 11,247 
			 2004-05 15,493 
			 2005-06 14,769 
			  Source:  Audited summarisation schedules of the York hospitals NHS trust 1992-93 to 2005-06

Human Embryo Experiments: Stem Cells

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what treatments for  (a) children and  (b) adults with disabling conditions have been developed since July 2006 arising from (i) human embryo experimentation, (ii) embryonic stem cell research and (iii) non-embryonic stem cell research; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made in curing diseases arising from the results of  (a) adult stem cell research,  (b) embryonic stem cell research and  (c) human embryo experimentation since July 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: As indicated by previous replies to the hon. Member's questions on these topics at the end of in 2005 and 2006, it is too early to talk of treatments for disabling conditions. However, research in these areas has started us on the road to a better understanding of conditions such as motor neurone disease, diabetes and cystic fibrosis that will help us to develop effective treatments, with time. Scientific opinion remains that research in these areas will revolutionise the treatment for such conditions in the 21st century.

Insulin

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has approved reductions in the range of insulins supplied in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We are aware that several insulin presentations will be discontinued from the United Kingdom market during 2007. However, we do not believe that patient care will be compromised as alternative treatment options remain available. All companies need to keep their product portfolios under close review, and may decide to discontinue a product for a number of reasons. The Department has no powers to insist that a company continue to keep a product on the market if it decides not to. Officials are in regular contact with the companies who supply insulins to the UK market and are continuing to monitor the situation.

Kidneys: Transplant Surgery

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for kidney transplants on the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: Over the last five years, the Department has provided NHS Blood and Transplant dedicated funding—over £4 million in 2006-07—to support a number of specific hospital based initiatives to increase organ donor rates, including 25 living kidney donor schemes. Since 2001-02, there has been a 2 per cent. increase in kidney transplants.
	Over 14 million people have registered on the Organ Donor Register (ODR), which represents approximately 23 per cent. of the United Kingdom population. The Department gives around £1 million pounds yearly to NHS Blood and Transplant to run the ODR and to promote transplantation. The Department also provides Section 64 grants to a number of charities.
	In addition, an Organ Donation Task Force is currently identifying barriers to organ donation and will report later this year on what further steps could be taken to increase organ donation rates.

Macular Degeneration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are being treated for macular degeneration in  (a) the United Kingdom,  (b) England,  (c) Greater London,  (d) the London Borough of Havering and  (e) Romford.

Rosie Winterton: The majority of patients receiving treatment for macular degeneration are likely to be treated as out-patients. We do not hold data showing the number of out-patient attendances for this condition.
	The table shows the number of national health service in-patient admissions during 2005-06 for those whose primary diagnosis was degeneration of the macular and posterior pole.
	We do not hold data covering the whole of the United Kingdom, nor do we hold data for Romford, which is covered by Havering Primary Care Trust.
	
		
			   Total patients 
			 England 5,232 
			 Greater London 450 
			 Havering (Primary Care Trust) 14 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Macular Degeneration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's policy is on combating age-related macular degeneration.

Rosie Winterton: The main risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) include smoking and poor diet. The White Paper "Choosing Health" sets out the wide range of action being taken to reduce smoking and improve diet and nutrition.
	In September 2003, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the use of Visudyne in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of wet AMD in some patients. All primary care trusts are funding this treatment in accordance with NICE'S guidance.
	NICE began a review of Macugen and Lucentis as a treatment for wet AMD on 1 August 2006. NICE will issue a draft document for public consultation following its first appraisal committee meeting on 18 April.

Maternity Services: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternity units there are in the London Borough of Havering.

Ivan Lewis: There are two maternity units in the London borough of Havering—both part of Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals national health service trust—one at Queen's Hospital in Romford and one at King George Hospital in Ilford.

Midwives: Greater London

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were  (a) employed and  (b) made redundant by each London based NHS trust in each of the last 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: The information is shown in the following table. Information on redundancies was collected centrally for the first time in 2006.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community h ealth services: Registered midwiv es in each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year 
			   Headcount  
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006( 1)  Midwifery compulsory redundancies in the nine months to 31 December2006 
			 London Strategic Health Authority 3,370 3,406 3,581 3,399 3,526 3,601 3,981 3,950 4,338 4,307 3 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a 248 244 283 284 297 292 0 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a 222 206 229 260 247 242 270 243 0 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 119 150 142 131 115 0 
			 Brent and Harrow Health Authority n/a n/a n/a 1 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 94 97 89 84 87 88 90 96 109 121 0 
			 Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 48 57 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust 135 120 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 129 149 152 146 142 148 151 121 188 165 0 
			 Croydon Primary Care Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 101 80 92 110 131 65 69 88 91 45 0 
			 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a 256 242 210 232 231 220 229 225 0 
			 Forest Healthcare NHS Trust 110 116 117 109 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Guys and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 176 235 189 140 170 176 234 239 286 342 0 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 46 71 150 188 198 172 141 154 214 160 0 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering Hospitals NHS Trust 141 140 132 147 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 167 132 105 105 106 184 175 157 125 145 0 
			 Hillingdon PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 0 0 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 156 130 121 99 132 159 159 196 196 179 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 0 0 0 0 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 151 115 132 128 160 161 198 197 209 210 0 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 156 176 177 165 157 160 162 155 172 179 0 
			 London Strategic Health Authority n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 0 
			 Mayday HealthCare NHS Trust 157 44 200 89 111 98 99 106 102 141 0 
			 Newham Community Health Services NHS Trust 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 115 141 157 115 125 119 119 118 146 156 0 
			 North East London SHA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 2 2 2 n/a 0 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 107 111 97 96 104 100 117 127 93 87 0 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a 158 174 129 135 137 125 149 116 1 
			 Northwick Park Hospital NHS Trust 98 106 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 88 109 19 52 29 26 178 99 137 157 0 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 159 162 161 151 175 204 161 124 122 109 0 
			 Redbridge Health Care NHS Trust 103 111 99 100 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Redbridge PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton NHS Trust 2 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 26 25 50 38 51 95 105 72 99 131 0 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 116 119 120 134 138 146 150 148 176 143 2 
			 St. Helier NHS Trust 156 164 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 81 84 87 74 75 71 87 105 110 135 0 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 53 99 102 111 103 114 127 106 140 143 0 
			 Tower Hamlets Healthcare NHS Trust 127 139 137 121 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 117 1 1 1 1 1 0 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 20 30 35 52 64 67 85 94 101 134 0 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Wellhouse NHS Trust 135 140 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 104 101 88 86 109 67 81 94 123 127 0 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a 122 80 156 184 143 145 0 
			 The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 112 103 137 136 103 106 84 154 176 159 0 
			 n/a = not applicable. (1) More accurate validation processes in 2006 have resulted in the identification and removal of 9,858 duplicate non-medical staff records out of the total workforce figure of 1.3 million in 2006. Earlier years' figures could not be accurately validated in this way and so will be slightly inflated. The level of inflation in earlier years' figures is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. of total across all non-medical staff groups for headcount figures (and negligible for full time equivalents). This should be taken into consideration when analysing trends over time.  Source: NHS Hospital and Community Health Services Non-Medical Workforce Census.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients self-funded drugs and were required to meet all other costs of treatment in each quarter of the last five years, broken down by primary care trust; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations she has received on her Department's policy on the funding of other costs of treatment which would normally be provided by the NHS for patients choosing to fund the cost of a drug privately; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients who self-funded drugs and were required to meet all other costs of treatment.
	The Department has received a number of representations from hon. Members and the public on the question of combining privately funded and national health service-funded treatments.
	We are committed to maintaining the core principle of NHS treatment being provided free at the point of the delivery, based on clinical need and not ability to pay. This means it is important there is clarity on whether a procedure is publicly or privately funded.

NHS: East Yorkshire

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what each of the job titles is of staff employed at Hull and East Yorkshire hospitals; and how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in each role in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to NHS trusts in financial deficit by her Department on media management.

Ivan Lewis: No guidance on media management relating to financial deficits has been sent to national health service trusts by the Department.

NHS: Finance

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value was of each grant allocated under the capital challenge fund scheme, broken down by NHS trust.

Ivan Lewis: Under the terms of the capital challenge fund, acute hospital trusts in England were invited to apply for up to £300,000 additional capital finance in 2006-07, to help combat healthcare associated infections. The table showing the allocations from the capital challenge fund and the amounts received has been placed in the Library.
	A small number of trusts did not benefit from the full allocation because of an overriding pre-existing agreement with the trust covering all capital finance in 2006-07, and in these cases the amount received (column 2) was less than the allocation from the capital challenge fund.

Ritalin

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England were prescribed methylphenidate drugs in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not hold data on the number of patients prescribed methylphenidate hydrochloride drugs. The table shows the number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England.
	
		
			   Number of prescription items dispensed (thousand) 
			 1997-98 102.2 
			 1998-99 134.2 
			 1999-2000 168.0 
			 2000-01 189.6 
			 2001-02 214.6 
			 2002-03 271.3 
			 2003-04 329.3 
			 2004-05 362.1 
			 2005-06 403.5 
			  Source: Prescription cost analysis (PCA) system

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence plans to publish its public health programme guidance on smoking cessation.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence expects to publish its public health programme guidance on smoking cessation in November 2007.

Testicular Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking  (a) to increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer and  (b) to promote early diagnosis.

Rosie Winterton: Testicular cancer is almost always curable if found early. The disease responds well to treatment even if it has spread to other parts of the body. More than nine out of 10 patients are cured.
	Men should be aware of any unusual changes and consult doctors early in order to ensure the maximum chance of a cure. That is why we have collaborated with Cancer Research UK in the production of a leaflet to promote the public awareness of testicular cancer, 'Testicular Cancer: Spot The Symptoms Early'. Around 250,000 copies of the leaflet were produced in 2006-07, distributed through Cancer Research UK helplines, at events and in Cancer Research UK shops. The leaflet has been placed in the Library and can be viewed at:
	info.cancerresearchuk.org/images/publicationspdfs/leaflet_testicular.pdf

Wheelchair Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that those provided with wheelchair services prior to March 2005 can be issued with replacement wheelchairs to at least the same specification when their criteria remain unchanged and do not meet the revised criteria set out in version 005 of the health care standards for wheelchair services under the NHS published in March 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The needs of those requiring wheelchair services will continue to be assessed individually on the basis of clinical need and locally determined eligibility criteria. The document 'Health Care Standards for Wheelchair Services under the NHS' was not a document published or endorsed by the Department but was produced by the wheelchair managers forum, which includes representation from the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine, empower, the National Forum of Wheelchair User Groups the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, the Posture and Mobility group and Whizz-Kidz. The document was issued as guidance and is not mandatory.

TREASURY

Departments: Computers

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) instructions are issued to staff in his Department and  (b) technical procedures are in place to shut down computers at night.

John Healey: All Treasury staff are instructed to shut down their computers overnight, through internal guidance and IT induction courses, as part of the Department's sustainable development strategy to minimise energy use.

Departments: Silverfish TV

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has met representatives from Silverfish TV in the last three years.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Departments: Silverfish TV

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments his Department made to Silverfish TV in each year since 1997; and what the purpose was of each.

John Healey: HM Treasury has awarded no contracts to Silverfish TV since April 2003. Information relating to earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hospitals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official visits to NHS hospitals he has made since May 2005; and which hospital was visited in each case.

John Healey: The Chancellor and Treasury Ministers have made a number of visits across the United Kingdom since May 2005, including visits to NHS hospitals. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I can confirm the Chancellor most recently visited Birmingham Heartlands Hospital on 27 April 2007.

Inheritance Tax

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in Copeland who will be affected by changes made to the inheritance tax allowance.

Edward Balls: The information which would be needed to produce estimates at local levels is not available.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has estimated the costs to  (a) the Department of Health and its executive agencies and  (b) the NHS of the proposed changes in the Finance Bill 2007 for tackling the risk posed to the Exchequer of the operational practices of managed service companies.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 20 April 2007,  Official Report, column 863W.

Office for National Statistics

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) chooses people for interview in the course of compiling its statistics; what obligation there is on such people to respond; what guidance the ONS gives to such people; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated May 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) chooses people for interview in the course of compiling its statistics; what obligation there is on such. people to respond; what guidance the ONS gives to such people. I am replying in her absence. (135806)
	The ONS interviews people as part of its Social Survey Programme. Addresses are selected at random from the Royal Mail's Postcode Address list. Residents at those addresses are then interviewed. Participation in the survey is voluntary.
	All households selected for interview receive an early warning letter from the Office. This letter explains the purpose of the survey, the selection procedures and encourages participation. It also describes on whose behalf the survey is being conducted. In some cases a small reward (in the form of a gift voucher) is offered on completion. The letter also provides details of the interviewers and offers an inquiry line for questions.
	When interviewers call at the address they provide interviewees with a leaflet which covers many of the points referred to above, in more detail. This leaflet also explains to respondents that data obtained in the interview are confidential and are used for statistical purposes only. When asked whether the interviews are mandatory, interviewers are trained to explain that they are conducted on a voluntary basis. I am placing a copy of a sample of the leaflet and introductory letter in the House of Commons Library.
	ONS also interviews people at airports for the International Passenger Survey, where people are again selected randomly at the Departures and Arrivals areas of ports and airports. In addition ONS does sometimes interview people via telephone to follow up social survey interviews first conducted face-to-face, as described above.

Official Cars

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2006 by the Minister of State, Department for Transport,  Official Report, column 1068W, on official cars, how many times his Department has granted permission to a special adviser to use an official car in the last 12 months.

John Healey: All travel by Ministers is conducted in line with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. All travel by civil servants, including special advisers, is conducted in line with the Civil Service Management Code.

Poverty: Children

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many children in Copeland he expects to be helped out of living in poverty as a result of the changes announced in the 2007 Budget;
	(2)  what percentage of the additional expenditure on tax credits announced in the 2007 Budget is expected to be claimed by families in Copeland;
	(3)  how many families in Copeland will receive the increase in the child element of the child tax credit announced in the 2007 Budget.

Stephen Timms: HMRC statistics(1) show that, at 3 April 2007, approximately 7,400 children in 4,100 families in Copeland were receiving above the family element of child tax credit and would benefit from increasing the child element by £150 per year above earnings indexation. In addition to this, increasing the child element above earnings indexation will mean that some families in Copeland currently receiving only the family element of child tax credit will also receive some of the child element. It is however, not possible to prevent poverty statistics below the regional level.
	Nationally, as a result of the package of measures announced in Budget 2007:
	households with children will be, on average, £200 a year better off;
	households with children in the bottom fifth of the income distribution will be on average, on average, £350 a year better off; and
	200,000 children will be lifted out of poverty.
	It is not known what percentage of the additional expenditure on tax credits announced in the 2007 Budget is expected to be claimed by families in Copeland, as we do not break down expenditure to constituency level.
	(1) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/ctc-wtc-geog-apr07.pdf

Revenue and Customs: Publicity

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on online website advertising services as part of the "Tax doesn't have to be taxing" campaign since its launch.

John Healey: Since the launch in 1999, £2,522,459 has been spent on online website advertising services as part of the "Tax doesn't have to be taxing" campaign.
	The latest tracking research has shown that the proportion of people claiming to have started online filing has continued to increase.
	In 2007, 2.9 million filed online, 35.1 per cent. of total returns against a target of 35 per cent.

Smith Institute: Publications

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Smith Institute publications his Department has purchased since 1997.

John Healey: The Treasury has no records of purchasing Smith Institute publications.

Taxation: Agriculture

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the definition of assets which qualify for agricultural buildings allowances to clarify what constitutes a fixture.

John Healey: The Government announced a package of business tax reforms in the Budget. This included the withdrawal of agricultural buildings allowances and the introduction of a new category of fixtures integral to a building that will be included in the 10 per cent. capital allowances pool, effective from 2008. The Government will be consulting this summer on the definition of this new classification of integral fixtures.

Taxation: Car Sharing

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees benefited from the tax and national insurance contributions concession on exceptional events in car sharing schemes in 2005-06 and 2006-07; and what the value was of the IR176 relief in those years.

Edward Balls: This information is not available as there is no requirement for employers to report details of exempt benefits to HMRC.

Taxation: Self-Assessment

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was owed in outstanding fines for the late return of self-assessment tax forms at the end of each of the last nine financial years.

John Healey: The information requested is not available for each of the last nine years. The self- assessment penalties outstanding at the end of HM Revenue and Customs accounting years, both in monetary amounts and in percentage terms against the cumulative penalties raised, are set out in the table. HMRC accounting years run to the end of October.
	
		
			   SA  penalties outstanding  (£ million)  Outstanding as a  p ercentage of charges raised 
			 1998 54.81 47.08 
			 1999 92.37 36.99 
			 2000 112.95 28.37 
			 2001 127.24 23.30 
			 2002 136.26 19.76 
			 2003 131.79 15.68 
			 2004 134.45 13.28 
			 2005 145.52 12.02

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1025W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), on the Valuation Office Agency, what proportion of the 2.2 million photographs were of domestic properties.

John Healey: Of the 2.2 million photographs, 1.28 million (58 per cent.) were of domestic properties. The 1.28 million photographs related to some 823,000 separate addresses.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people are unable to claim tax credits solely because of their age;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of lowering the age at which able-bodied people without children can claim tax credits from 25 to 18 years.

John Healey: Tax credits are not available to families only consisting of adults aged under 25 without children or a disability. There is no upper age limit. If the age at which these families become eligible for tax credits was lowered from 25 to 18 years around 500,000 additional families, mainly single adults, would be eligible to claim and receive tax credits at an estimated cost to the exchequer of £325 million.
	These estimates do not include the effects of the disregard which may increase the number of eligible families and estimated cost.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption: China

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications his Department is processing by UK citizens to adopt children from China through the China Center of Adoption Affairs; what the date is of the oldest application; how many of the applications have been made according to  (a) the requirements which are soon to be superseded and  (b) the new requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department is currently processing 50 applications by British citizens to adopt children from China. They are at various stages of processing between acknowledgement and sending the application to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) and are being processed under the new requirements which came into force on 1 May 2007.
	Of the above applications, the oldest standard application was received on 20 October 2006. One complex application, received on 16 June 2006, is also being processed by the Department.
	The Department will continue to have a processing role for applications already with the CCAA until an adoption order is made. There is no central record of the number of applications already processed (and with the CCAA) under the old and new requirements.

Apprentices: Assessments

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the NVQ component of apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships is tested entirely by written examination; what the length is of that examination; and what proportion of the examination contains multiple choice questions.

Phil Hope: holding answer 20 April 2007
	The NVQ component of apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships assessing competence in the workplace is rarely tested by written examination, though this method could be appropriate to some sectors where competence and knowledge elements of the framework are integrated. The NVQ component is normally assessed by apprentices accumulating a portfolio of evidence of practical achievements. Assessment methods vary between sectors and are determined for apprenticeship frameworks by the appropriate Sector Skills Councils, Sector Bodies and employers in collaboration with the QCA.

Asperger's Syndrome

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had on the provision of specialist education for children with Asperger's syndrome; and what steps his Department is taking to improve such provision.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Secretary of State met Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK earlier this year and the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education responded on behalf of the Government to a Westminster Hall debate on 7 March 2007, proposed by Mr Corea's MP, the Member for Ilford North, on educational provision for autistic children. Ministers and the Department have ongoing discussions with The National Autistic Society and others on improving educational provision for all children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs).
	The inclusion development programme, part of the Department's special educational needs (SEN) strategy, is designed to help schools with practical resources and to deliver cascaded training through local authority advisers and school SEN co-ordinators. ASDs will be in the second wave of the programme and will encompass the schools' autism pack which the Department is developing through its Autism Working Group.

Children's Centres

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much  (a) capital and  (b) revenue his Department has spent in each London local authority on (i) Sure Start and (ii) children's centres since their inception.

Beverley Hughes: The information available for spend on Sure Start Local Programmes and children's centres for the period 1999-2000 to 2005-06 in London local authorities is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   SSLP  Children's centres 
			  Local authority  Revenue spend  Capital spend  Revenue spend  Capital spend 
			 Brent 9,432,746 3,802,502 967,594 2,551,717 
			 Camden 15,388,525 4,676,434 308,072 816,644 
			 Enfield 7,056,269 596,588 922,092 1,619,194 
			 Hackney 19,583,092 4,254,948 1,350,658 1,150,066 
			 Haringey 14,581,579 5,265,454 704,120 2,234,381 
			 Newham 21,129,500 4,255,006 789,367 2,617,406 
			 Tower Hamlets 18,299,717 3,024,082 597,515 614,267 
			 Waltham Forest 9,827,119 3,638,114 1,242,574 2,989,125 
			 Greenwich 12,718,642 3,443,016 1,473,027 2,288,470 
			 Lambeth 16,452,545 3,758,929 1,940,570 2,113,716 
			 Southwark 22,623,179 6,757,939 1,722,915 4,159,930 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0 1,264,610 1,659,918 
			 Croydon 3,619,626 1,069,687 199,838 395,074 
			 Ealing 5,926,123 2,083,672 688,909 598,240 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,178,042 2,085,116 370,384 300,000 
			 Hounslow 3,553,715 1,074,186 341,534 478,627 
			 Islington 16,018,141 4,711,548 948,816 2,215,578 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,069,010 1,776,721 281,970 652,388 
			 Lewisham 13,458,688 2,812,999 950,048 1,851,929 
			 Redbridge 3,292,748 1,135,002 331,309 173,978 
			 Wandsworth 5,997,550 2,132,627 219,108 300,000 
			 Westminster 8,283,229 2,429,315 367,744 1,029,000 
			 Bromley 2,703,525 1,075,000 290,746 21,061 
			 Havering 3,403,631 272,123 208,357 111,936 
			 Hillingdon 3,033,094 1,177,577 140,794 134,716 
			 Bexley 2,623,925 869,859 335,340 788,022 
			 Merton 1,825,782 1,004,667 217.696 0 
			 Barnet 1,483,713 800,000 249,134 150,000 
			 Sutton 2,013,707 111,000 200,750 498,047 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0 0 0 
			 Harrow 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 254,577,162 70,094,111 19,625,590 34,513,430 
			  Notes: 1. Source is audit returns from the local authority and the individual SSLP's where available. 2. Where audits are outstanding we have estimated expenditure based on unaudited expenditure figures. 3. Where both audited and unaudited expenditure figures are unavailable we have included an estimate based on average spend rates. 4. There is not sufficient available data to include 2006-07 until later in the year when local authorities make their audited expenditure returns. 5. In 2005-06 Hammersmith and Fulham and Greenwich received funding for children's centres through a local area agreement.

City Academies: Sponsorship

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local authorities which have expressed an interest in sponsoring an academy; and what progress has been made with each expression of interest.

Jim Knight: Sunderland city council, Manchester city council, Kent county council, Coventry city council and the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea have all signed a formal Expression of Interest as a part sponsor of one or more academy projects. In each case the council proposed to become part-sponsor but with the non-state sponsor appointing a majority of the governors and taking responsibility for the governance of the academy, as is required under the academies programme even when a local authority is part sponsor. It is not permitted that the local authority appoint more than two governors or play the leading role in the academy governance.
	Once a formal Expression of Interest has been signed and approved by Ministers there are two further stages in the development of an academy before it opens—a "feasibility stage" during which the project team prepares detailed plans, including an educational vision and model, and formally consults with the local community; and an "implementation stage" during which detailed plans for school improvement are developed by all the stakeholders, and any necessary building work is carried out. Sunderland city council's interest is in three academies, all of which have entered their feasibility stage. Manchester city council has signed an Expression of Interest for a total of seven academies, all of which have entered their feasibility stage. Kent county council has an interest in five projects, of which one is already open and four have entered feasibility. The Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea has signed an Expression of Interest for one academy, which is in its implementation stage. All of the academies have non-state co-sponsors.

Classroom Assistants: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants are employed within  (a) Greater London,  (b) the London borough of Havering and  (c) Romford, broken down by examining body.

Jim Knight: Information for teaching assistants employed in maintained schools is not available by examining body.
	In January 2006 the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units in the London Government office region was 22,820, of which 660 were in the London borough of Havering and 190 in Romford constituency. This is the latest information available at constituency, local authority and Government office level.
	Provisional teaching assistant numbers for 2007 at the national level were published on 26 April.

Community Champions Fund

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will extend the Community Champions Fund beyond 31 March 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The purpose of the comprehensive spending review settlement for this Department for 2008-11 is to deliver key priorities for children, young people and learners. Decisions to be taken over the coming months will permit more detailed announcements to be made in due course about the allocation of resources. The option of continuing to fund Community Champions will need to be considered alongside programmes that more directly impact on outcomes for children and young people.

Departmental Expenditure

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure by his Department on buying, operating and supporting  (a) all commercial software products and  (b) software products produced by Microsoft was in each of the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table gives details of internal running costs expenditure for the initial purchase of  (a) commercial software products and  (b) Microsoft products. All of the totals are inclusive of VAT. The columns have been sorted by financial year.
	
		
			  £ 
			  FY  Commercial software products  Microsoft products 
			 2003-04 2,040,522 575,567 
			 2004-05 1,779,864 422,765 
			 2005-06 1,709,154 318,589 
			 2006-07 to date 1,471,881 362,947 
		
	
	The following table gives details of the costs incurred to maintain and licence software. Unfortunately it is not possible to separate between Microsoft products and non Microsoft products as the information is not readily available. Again all totals are inclusive of VAT.
	
		
			  FY  £ 
			 2003-04 733,673 
			 2004-05 731,056 
			 2005-06 892,500 
			 2006-07 to date 858,845 
		
	
	We are unable to provide any expenditure information which covers operating and supporting either commercial software products or Microsoft software products as this is not identifiable from other costs held in our records.
	Other expenditure incurred purchasing software from programme budgets is not readily available within Department for Education and Skills. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Departments: ICT

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the  (a) originally estimated,  (b) most recently estimated and  (c) outturn cost was of each of the five largest information technology contracts agreed by his Department with outside suppliers in the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Education and Skills. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Departments: India

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Ministers in his Department have visited India in the last 12 months; on how many occasions each Minister visited India; and what the length was of each visit.

Parmjit Dhanda: This Government publishes an annual list of Cabinet Ministers' travel overseas costing over £500 along with the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on 24 July 2006 and is available in the Library of the House. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as it is ready.
	All travel is in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.
	No Department for Education and Skills' Minister has visited India in the last 12 months.

Departments: Market Research

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent on  (a) opinion polls and  (b) focus groups in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: We do not classify our research expenditure in this way, so we cannot break it down by these categories. To gather the information in such a way would incur disproportionate costs.

Departments: Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people took sick leave for stress in his Department in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the total staff number this represents.

Parmjit Dhanda: One hundred and twenty seven (127) people took sick leave for stress in my Department during the 12 months ending March 2007; this represents 3.5 per cent. of the total staff number.

Departments: Visits Abroad

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent on overseas travel in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The figures in the following table are taken from the Department's financial systems for the years in question and cover overseas travel by both Ministers and civil servants. All such travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers" and the "Civil Service Management Code", as appropriate. Since 1999 the Government have published, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. This information is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2005-06 was published on 24 July 2006,  Official Report , column 86WS. Information for the financial year 2006-07 is in the process of being collated and will be published shortly.
	
		
			  Expenditure on  o verseas  v isits 
			  £000 
			 1997-98 663 
			 1998-99 773 
			 1999-00 789 
			 2000-01 832 
			 2001-02 506 
			 2002-03 243 
			 2003-04 218 
			 2004-05 180 
			 2005-06 251 
			 2006-07 (provisional) 324 
		
	
	These figures reflect the Department as constituted at the time the accounts for each year were produced and so are not adjusted for Machinery of Government changes.

Diplomas for England

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to liaise with employers on Diplomas for England; and what role is played by employers in the programme's practical portfolio.

Jim Knight: We are working with national and local employers on both the design of Diplomas and their implementation at a local level. 5,000 employers have been involved in the design of the first five Diploma lines including major corporations such as BT, BSkyB and Sainsbury through Diploma Development Partnerships (DDPs). A large number of employers are also currently involved in the development of the second five Diploma lines and we expect even more will get involved in the development of the final four.
	The DDPs also have an important role in engaging both large corporations and local employers in the direct delivery of Diplomas. To this end the DDPs will be running nine regional events in May for local consortia who were successful in the recent Diploma Gateway process and will be offering the first Diplomas in 2008.
	Our key partner bodies in education business links, the local Education Business Partnerships, Trident, and others also have a role to play. Between them they have links to at least 300,000 businesses already working with schools and colleges. They are engaging with DDPs, Sector Skills Councils, and local Diploma delivery consortia to help local employers to support Diploma students with work experience placements and other essential work-related input. If Diplomas are genuinely to provide the kind of knowledge, skills and attitudes that employers value, we need them to get involved in supporting all aspects of teaching and learning. The nature of this will depend on each employer's capacity and might include providing support materials; sponsoring projects; mentoring young people or simply giving talks on relevant topics. Bill Rammell recently announced improvements that we are making to the existing infrastructure for supporting work-related learning.
	In addition, the Secretary of State has appointed Sir Alan Jones as the Diploma Champion for Employers. Employer to employer promotion of the expected value to business is key in ensuring that we get a high level of employer engagement and active involvement in Diplomas. Sir Alan Jones is already attending a number of events which will enable him to talk to a large number of employers. On 5 June the Secretary of State and Sir Richard Lambert will also host a joint CBI/DfES breakfast event for CEOs focusing on the Diplomas.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department has taken to tackle fraud on the payment of education maintenance allowances to older children; how many staff have been involved; how many fraudulent claims were established; how many prosecutions have been made; and how much has been recovered in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: holding answer 8 May 2007
	After extensive piloting, the education maintenance allowance was rolled out nationally from September 2004. In taking the decision to roll out the scheme, the Department ensured there were robust arrangements in place to minimise the risk of fraud.
	Responsibility for operating the education maintenance allowance, and maintaining and implementing a strategy for managing the risk of fraud, transferred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 1 April 2005. The LSC have provided a response to these questions as follows:
	The EMA national scheme has been operating in its current form since September 2004 and is currently being paid to over 500,000 learners aged 16 to 19.
	All aspects of EMA fraud are proactively managed by a compliance manager, drawing upon support from a number of colleagues and external experts as and when required.
	The following table provides details on the number of fraudulent claims established and the amount of money recovered for the three years of the national scheme.
	
		
			   Number of fraudulent claims established  Amount recovered (£) 
			 200405 0 0 
			 2005-06 15 1,120 
			 2006-07 (to date) 9 540 
		
	
	Due to the relatively small sums involved no prosecutions have been made to date.

Education Maintenance Allowance: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in  (a) Tamworth constituency,  (b) Staffordshire and  (c) the West Midlands have claimed the education maintenance allowance since its introduction.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the DfES and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the council's Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 25 April 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question that asked;
	"How many pupils in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) the West Midlands have claimed the education maintenance allowance since its introduction."
	In the first year of national roll out EMA was available to all 16 year olds across England and to 17 and 18 year olds in former pilot areas (young people who are 19 are entitled to receive EMA in certain circumstances). In 2005/06 EMA roll out continued and EMA was available to all 16 and 17 year olds nationally. In 2006/07 EMA is available to all 16, 17 and 18 year olds nationally.
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	The attached table shows EMA take-up data for Staffordshire Local Authority area and the West Midlands during each academic year since the introduction of the scheme.
	
		
			  Take-up of EMA in each academic year 
			   2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 to end March 
			 Staffordshire 1,137 2,033 7,726 
			 West Midlands 41,125 53,274 62,549 
		
	
	I hope this information is useful and addresses your question.

Education: Cambridgeshire

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the Cambridgeshire Standards Fund Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant was reduced by 30 per cent. in 2004.

Jim Knight: Changes to the distribution of the Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMAG) element of the Standards Fund were introduced in 2004-05 to bring a better targeted, fairer and more sensible distribution to this grant. These changes were widely endorsed by the DfES "Aiming High: Raising the Achievement of Minority Ethnic Pupils" consultation of 2003.
	The redistribution of funding resulted in a small number of local authorities, including Cambridgeshire, receiving less funding than they did under the previous system under which allocations did not properly reflect the number of minority ethnic children in the local authority. However, losses in any one year were limited to 0.05 per cent. of each authority's overall school funding.

Education: Finance

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the pilot of Activity Agreement Allowances.

Phil Hope: The Activity Agreement pilots began in April 2006 in eight areas of England. They were originally planned to run to the end of March 2008. In his Budget Report in March, the Chancellor announced an extension of the pilots into the 2007 CSR period.
	A comprehensive evaluation project is running alongside the pilots to examine and assess the effectiveness of the pilot activity and to understand how young people respond to the initiative.
	The evaluation will report to the DFES in December 2008.

Employer Training Pilots

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007 to question 131374, on employer train pilots, how many employees had enrolled in Train to Gain programmes by the end of February 2007 in companies where the employer had  (a) fewer than 250,  (b) between 250 and 1,000 and  (c) between 1,000 and 5,000 employees.

Phil Hope: holding answer 23 April 2007
	Train to Gain is an ongoing service and as such performance is updated on a regular basis. Detailed operational information is not held centrally by the Department but is collected by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom the LSC Chief Executive has written to the hon. Member. and a copy of his reply will has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 8 May 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent parliamentary question about how many employees had enrolled in the Train to Gain programmes by the end of February 2007 in companies where the employer has (a) fewer than 250, (b) between 250 and 1,000 and (c) between 1,000 and 5,000 employees?
	At the end of February 2007, the LSC had this information for 13,362 of the 18,530 employers with learners at that time. The details you requested are shown below for these employers.
	
		
			  Company size  Number of companies  Employees enrolled as learners 
			 (a) below 250 11,184 49,216 
			 (b) 250-1,000 1,196 11,627 
			 (c) 1,000-5,000 982 6,664 
		
	
	I hope this response is helpful to you.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list those faith schools in  (a) Birmingham,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England which do not give priority to children of their faith.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Families: Eating Habits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will include in guidance to schools guidance on encouraging families to eat at home at night round the table;
	(2)  whether he plans to take steps to reduce the number of children spending money on unhealthy snacks in between meals.

Parmjit Dhanda: We have no plans to issue guidance to schools on encouraging families to eat at home at night round the table. Arrangements for eating outside of school are rightly matters for individual families to decide. However, our school food programme is designed to help children to recognise the benefits of healthy eating, not only at school but also at home. This includes ensuring that all secondary school pupils will have an entitlement to learn to cook from 2008. This will ensure that they have the necessary skills to enable them to reproduce that healthy food at home.
	New school food standards to be introduced in September 2007, cover both food served at lunchtime and at other times of the school day, building on the interim standards introduced in September 2006. The new school food standards will restrict snacks provided in schools to nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables with no added salt sugar or fat. This will ensure that the food available to children throughout the day in school is healthy and nutritionally balanced. Recognising the benefits of healthy eating should also help to discourage pupils from buying unhealthy snacks on the way to and from school.

First Aid: Education

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what principles underpin first-aid education delivered in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department's 'Safefy Education: Guidance for schools DfES/0161/2002' provides information on how the framework for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) can address the issue of accidental injury arid death in children and young people. The framework includes teaching young people at primary school level about school rules relating to health and safety issues, and at secondary school level to develop skills to cope with emergencies, including first aid and resuscitation techniques. Beyond this, the guidance also highlights how other parts of the national curriculum can be used to develop children's ability to recognise hazards and respond appropriately to risky situations.
	The Department encourages schools to develop strategies that are effective at a local level in raising the profile of safety education and dealing with medical emergencies, working with suitable partners where appropriate to do so. We are aware of the valuable support that organisations such as the British Red Cross offer individual schools or groups of schools at a local level to enrich curriculum work in this area.

Free School Meals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the impact of the changes made in 2001 to how pupils are found eligible for free school meals on take-up of free school meals.

Parmjit Dhanda: In 2001 pupils whose parents received income support (IS), income based jobseekers allowance (IBJSA) or support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 were entitled to receive free school lunches. Children who received IS or IBJSA in their own right were also entitled to free school lunches.
	In April 2003 an additional free school meal eligibility criterion was introduced, predominantly to protect pupils who prior to 6 April 2003 were entitled to receive a free school lunch but, who after that date would otherwise have lost that entitlement as a result of the changes to the tax credit and welfare system. The additional criterion allowed pupils whose parents who were in receipt of child tax credit, without additional working tax credit, and an income as assessed by HMRC that did not exceed £13,230, (2003/04 tax year) (currently 2007/08 £14,495) to receive free school meals.
	Also from April 2003 legislation requires:
	a claim for a free school lunch, by or on behalf of a pupil, to be made before they could be considered for a free school meal; and
	children who receive education suitable for a child under compulsory school (who would otherwise be eligible to receive a free school meal) to satisfy an additional requirement of receiving that education both before and after the lunch period before being eligible to receive a FSM.
	A final change was made in April 2003 that extended free school meal eligibility to pupils whose parents receive the guarantee element of state pension credit.
	Figures for maintained schools in England show, with the exception of 2004, that since 1997 there has been a continuous downward trend in the number of children known to be eligible to receive free school meals. The 2004 figures reflect the additional families that were brought into entitlement as a result of the changes to eligibility criteria in 2003. Figures show a similar, although lesser percentage, downward trend in the number of pupils that take-up their entitlement.

Further Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16 to 18 year-olds who were previously not in education, employment or training  (a) began a course in (i) a further education college, (ii) a sixth form college, (iii) a school sixth form, and (iv) a work-based learning provider and  (b) were no longer included under the definition because they reached their 19th birthday in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of young people aged 16 to 18 previously not in education, employment or training who began  (a) education or  (b) work based learning in each of the last three years as a proportion of the average number of young people not in education, employment or training during each of these years.
	
		
			  Percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds previously not in education, employment or training who began a course 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			   Education  Work based learning 
			 2003-04 16 34 
			 2004-05 20 34 
			 2005-06 22 36 
			  Source: Connexions Service 
		
	
	The proportion of young people beginning education cannot be broken down by the type of education establishment. Information on the proportion of young people who are no longer included under the definition because they reached their 19th birthday is not collected as Connexions may continue to work with them after this date. Young people beginning more than one course will be recorded on each occasion.
	It is estimated that 220,000 (11 per cent.) 16 to 18-year-olds were not in education, employment or training (NEET) at the end of 2005. Not all of these young people are out of work—the figures include young people taking a break from study, caring for families, or simply between jobs or courses. Annual surveys carried out on a group of young people at ages 16, 17 and 18 found that nearly 20 per cent. were NEET at one of the three survey dates, while only around 1 per cent. were NEET at each of the three survey points.
	Record numbers of 16-year-olds are in full-time education. But, we recognise the need to take action to reduce the proportion of young people not in any form of education, employment or training, and have set ourselves a very challenging target to get the proportion down to 8 per cent. by 2010.
	Our 14 to 19 reforms are vital: the implementation plan makes commitment to make and offer of learning to every young person after they complete year 11. They also give us the platform for agencies working with young people to plan and develop learning and employment opportunities that meet local needs.
	To keep them in learning, need to help them tackle the other issues in their lives that might cause them to leave which we are doing through our every child matters reforms.

Further Education: Student Wastage

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what analysis has been carried out to ascertain the main reasons why students in further education in each of the regions dropped out of their courses in each of the last three years.

Bill Rammell: The Department has commissioned research to ascertain the main reasons why students drop out of their further education courses. The report, 'Reasons for Early Leaving from Further Education and Work-based Learning Courses', assesses the reasons for course drop-out and identifies policy mechanisms that might reduce non-completion. The report does not include analysis at a regional level.
	This research is due to be published at the end of June 2007. It will be available from the Department's research website
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) undertake a regular national learner satisfaction survey (NLSS) involving learners studying on a range of programmes in further education, work-based learning and adult and community learning. This survey provides an overview of delivery and satisfaction with education and training in England among learners aged 16 and over. The survey also analyses reasons for early leaving.
	In 2004-05 the most common reasons for early leaving were, being on the wrong course (15 per cent.) and health reasons (13 per cent.) Other key reasons related to tutor, assessment and quality of teaching issues (12 per cent.) 10 per cent. left to commence employment.
	The findings can be found in the publication, located http://research.lsc.gov.uk/LSC+Research/published/learner-satisfaction/ and by looking at the further education report.
	Each LSC region will conduct analysis and commission research to understand issues and concerns specific to them. Analysis of learner data and characteristics are undertaken as part of each region's strategic analysis activity to inform planning and commissioning decisions.

GCSEs: Standards

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training have  (a) five or more GCSEs at grade A-C,  (b) between one and four GCSEs at grade A-C,  (c) five or more GCSEs at grade D-G,  (d) one to four GCSEs at grade D-G and  (e) no GCSEs.

Jim Knight: The following table gives estimates of the proportion of 16,17 and 18 year olds not in education, employment or training at the requested levels of GCSE attainment by the end of year 11. These are survey based estimates and have been obtained from the Youth Cohort Study, tracking the same cohort of young people. There is no available estimate at a single point in time for the combined 16-18 group.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of 16, 17 and 18 year olds not in education, employment or training by GCSE( 1)  results in year 11 
			  Percentage 
			   Population at age 16  NEET age 16 in 2004  NEET age 17 in 2005  NEET age 18 in 2006 
			 5+ A* to C grades 54 12 12 35 
			 1 to 4 A* to C grades 23 26 29 25 
			 5+ D to G grades 16 31 31 24 
			 1 to 4 D to G grades 3 11 9 7 
			 No GCSEs 4 20 19 9 
			 (1) Includes equivalent GNVQ qualifications achieved in year 11

Giles Brook Primary School: Repairs and Maintenance

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on Giles Brook Primary School, Milton Keynes in  (a) original building costs,  (b) repairs and making good building defects and  (c) provision of temporary classrooms.

Jim Knight: This information is held locally. Much of the Department's capital resources are allocated to local authorities and schools by needs-related formulae, so that priorities for investment can be decided locally and in accordance with locally prepared asset management plans.

Guardianship

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children live outside care and in households with adult friends or family members who are not their birth parents.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 1 May 2007
	This information is not collected centrally.

Head Lice

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department gives schools regarding the prevention and treatment of head lice; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has produced a leaflet containing guidance on the prevention and treatment of head lice, which includes the option of using lotions as well as combing. The leaflet is widely available from locations that include schools and general practioners' surgeries and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/ll/63/47/04116347.pdf
	A copy of the leaflet has been placed in the Library.

Maintained Schools: Qualifications

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in maintained schools did not turn up for a GCSE exam for which they had been entered in 2006.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold the information required to answer the question.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to promote actively the employment within  (a) his Department and  (b) public sector bodies for whom he has responsibility of people with mental illnesses in line with the advice and codes of practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission.

Parmjit Dhanda: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and the public sector bodies for which I am responsible are required to publish and implement a Disability Equality Scheme. These are plans setting out how we will carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor and report on progress. In particular this includes our arrangements for gathering information on the effect of our policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of our disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
	The Department, and the public sector bodies for which I am responsible, also have duties under the employment provisions in Part 2 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants and employees. The arrangements are set out in the Department's Disability Equality Scheme which is a matter of public record.
	In addition, specifically on mental health, the Department will be launching a stress policy, and are working closely with 'Action on Stigma', the Department of Health led initiative to promote and sustain employment for people with mental illness.
	The public sector bodies sponsored by the Department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own Disability Equality Schemes.
	Action the Department is taking includes; an internal guide which describes how individuals and managers can manage and support mental health issues in the workplace, including sources of support for new joiners and existing employees; a stress policy based on the HSE Stress Management Standards; a 24/7 Employee Assistance provider who will provide telephone advice or 1:1 counselling; health fairs where material on mental health issues supplied by our local primary care trusts was distributed; and no pre-screening for health prior to recruitment or appointment with a guarantee that a person's health status does not form part of the selection process.

New Schools

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1288W, on new schools, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of schools completed in each year by  (a) region and  (b) London borough.

Jim Knight: The information given in the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1288W was partial. The Department is currently collecting details from all authorities of buildings investment in schools, including new schools built from all sources of funding. This information will be made available later this summer. I will ensure that copies are placed in the House Library, and that the hon. Member is informed when this happens.

Nursery Schools: North East Region

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in  (a) the North East and  (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland are in free nursery education.

Beverley Hughes: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of part-time funded places( 1,2)  filled by three and four year olds, January 2006 
			   3 year olds  4 year olds 
			   M aintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  M aintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 4)  Total 3 year olds  M aintained nursery and primary schools( 5)  M aintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 6)  Total 4 year olds 
			 North East Region 19,300 5,300 24,700 24,500 1,700 26,200 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Parliamentary Constituency area 890 30 910 990 20 1,000 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Schools Census. (4) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Schools Census. (5) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Schools' Census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Schools Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 32/2006 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2006 (final)" in August, which is available on my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Primary Education: Teachers

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1545W, on primary education teachers, whether he has taken steps to encourage schools to employ more men as primary school teachers; how much has been spent advertising jobs in publications likely to reach a predominantly male audience; whether he has encouraged schools to put in place targets for the recruitment of male teachers; whether specific training courses are offered only to male teachers; whether any advice has been given to schools of their right to advertise jobs under Section 47(1a) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; and if he will make a statement on the present number of male primary school teachers.

Jim Knight: DfES and TDA-Training and Development Agency for Schools-are working together to develop a programme of action to increase the number of men working in primary schools.
	The TDA has a range of actions specifically designed to encourage men to train to be primary teachers, in particular, three day TDA funded primary teaching 'taster courses' specifically for men. TDA advertises in national newspapers rather than male-themed publications because those have been more effective in attracting potential high quality teachers. TDA advertise for able, committed and high-quality trainees, regardless of gender.
	Neither TDA nor schools have targets for the recruitment of male trainees or staff. Employers must recruit the best candidate for the job. Training providers are expected to recruit the best quality candidates. The TDA aim is to improve annually on the existing 14 per cent. of male trainees accepted onto primary ITT courses. TDA does not offer teacher training courses specifically to males.
	Schools are free to advertise their vacancies where they wish. No advice has been given to schools on Section 47 (1a) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
	The latest provisional figure available for the number of male teachers in primary schools in 2005 was 26,700.

Pupil Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many exclusions from maintained  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools there were in each year since 1997, broken down by reason for the exclusion.

Jim Knight: The available information is shown in tables which have been placed in the Library.
	Only two years of data relating to the reason for exclusion are currently available. The first year for which information on the reason for exclusion is available relates to the 2003/04 academic year. Exclusions data for 2004/05 academic year were published in June 2006.

Pupil Exclusions: Greater London

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded from schools in  (a) each London borough and  (b) each school in the London borough of Sutton in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools: number and percentage of permanent exclusions( 1, 2, 3)  2000/01 to 2004/05 
			   2000/01 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools  Special schools  Total( 5) 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4) 
			  London 200 1.0 1,200 9.9 50 12.2 1,450 4.4 
			  
			  Inner London 80 0.5 430 4.5 20 6.0 540 2.0 
			 Camden 10 0.1 22 0.2 * * 30 0.1 
			 City of London 0 0.0 0 — 0 — 0 0.0 
			 Hackney 9 0.0 21 0.3 4 1.1 30 0.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7 0.1 33 0.5 0 0.0 40 0.2 
			 Haringey * * 28 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Islington 0 0.0 19 0.3 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 0.0 13 0.4 * * 20 0.2 
			 Lambeth 11 0.1 24 0.3 6 0.9 40 0.1 
			 Lewisham 12 0.1 70 0.6 * * 80 0.2 
			 Newham 8 0.0 28 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Southward 15 0.1 45 0.4 3 0.6 60 0.2 
			 Tower Hamlets * * 43 0.3 * * 50 0.1 
			 Wandsworth 3 0.0 58 0.6 5 0.7 70 0.2 
			 Westminster * * 27 0.3 0 0.0 30 0.2 
			  
			  Outer London 120 0.5 770 5.3 30 6.2 910 2.4 
			 Barking and Dagenham 9 0.0 10 0.1 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Barnet 4 0.0 50 0.2 * * 60 0.1 
			 Bexley 16 0.1 57 0.3 6 1.5 80 0.2 
			 Brent 5 0.0 41 0.3 3 0.7 50 0.1 
			 Bromley 8 0.0 53 0.2 0 0.0 60 0.1 
			 Croydon 15 0.0 101 0.6 * * 120 0.2 
			 Ealing 4 0.0 29 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Enfield 5 0.0 66 0.3 * * 70 0.1 
			 Greenwich 10 0.0 28 0.2 * * 40 0.1 
			 Harrow 10 0.1 58 0.7 0 0.0 70 0.2 
			 Havering * * 30 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Hillingdon 15 0.1 46 0.3 4 0.6 70 0.2 
			 Hounslow 3 0.0 41 0.3 4 1.0 50 0.1 
			 Kingston upon Thames * * 7 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Merton 4 0.0 27 0.3 * * 30 0.1 
			 Redbridge 3 0.0 22 0.1 3 0.7 30 0.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames * * 30 0.4 0 0.0 30 0.2 
			 Sutton * * 23 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Waltham Forest 0 0.0 47 0.4 * * 50 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			   2001/02 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools  Special schools  Total( 5) 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4) 
			  London 210 0.0 1,200 0.3 60 0.5 1,460 0.1 
			  
			  Inner London 80 0.0 390 0.3 20 0.5 490 0.1 
			 Camden * * 24 0.2 * * 30 0.1 
			 City of London 0 0.0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hackney 9 0.0 21 0.3 3 0.8 30 0.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham * * 34 0.5 * * 40 0.2 
			 Haringey 5 0.0 27 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Islington 0 0.0 12 0.2 0 0.0 10 0.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 0.0 9 0.3 * * 10 0.1 
			 Lambeth 9 0.0 29 0.4 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Lewisham 13 0.1 51 0.4 * * 70 0.2 
			 Newham 12 0.0 37 0.2 * * 50 0.1 
			 Southward 14 0.1 31 0.3 5 1.0 50 0.1 
			 Tower Hamlets * 0.0 36 0.3 * * 40 0.1 
			 Wandsworth 9 0.1 49 0.5 7 1.0 70 0.2 
			 Westminster * * 26 0.3 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			  
			  Outer London 130 0.0 810 0.3 30 0.4 970 0.1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 10 0.1 14 0.1 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Barnet 3 0.0 51 0.2 0 0.0 50 0.1 
			 Bexley 11 0.0 45 0.3 4 1.0 60 0.1 
			 Brent 3 0.0 34 0.2 * * 40 0.1 
			 Bromley 6 0.0 79 0.4 0 0.0 90 0.2 
			 Croydon 25 0.1 110 0.6 10 1.8 150 0.3 
			 Ealing 4 0.0 59 0.4 * * 60 0.1 
			 Enfield 6 0.0 64 0.3 * * 70 0.1 
			 Greenwich 18 0.1 31 0.2 * * 50 0.1 
			 Harrow 5 0.0 63 0.7 0 0.0 70 0.2 
			 Havering * * 42 0.3 * * 50 0.1 
			 Hillingdon 8 0.0 35 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Hounslow 7 0.0 50 0.3 * * 60 0.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames * * * * 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Merton 3 0.0 18 0.2 * * 20 0.1 
			 Redbridge * * 30 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3 0.0 25 0.3 3 2.0 30 0.2 
			 Sutton * * 34 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Waltham Forest 7 0.0 24 0.2 4 0.6 40 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			   2002/03 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools  Special schools  Total( 5) 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4) 
			  London 180 0.0 1,260 0.3 40 0.4 1,470 0.1 
			  
			  Inner London 60 0.0 390 0.3 20 0.4 470 0.1 
			 Camden 8 0.1 22 0.2 * * 30 0.2 
			 City of London 0 0.0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0.0 
			 Hackney 6 0.0 20 0.3 * * 30 0.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 0.0 32 0.4 0 0.0 30 0.2 
			 Haringey * * 29 0.3 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Islington * * 17 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0.0 15 0.4 * * 20 0.2 
			 Lambeth 9 0.0 22 0.3 * * 30 0.1 
			 Lewisham 8 0.0 34 0.3 * * 40 0.1 
			 Newham 7 0.0 57 0.3 0 0.0 60 0.1 
			 Southward 11 0.0 32 0.3 4 0.8 50 0.1 
			 Tower Hamlets * * 42 0.3 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Wandsworth * * 36 0.4 4 0.6 40 0.2 
			 Westminster 5 0.0 30 0.4 0 0.0 40 0.2 
			  
			  Outer London 120 0.0 870 0.3 30 0.3 1,010 0.1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 0.0 26 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Barnet 5 0.0 42 0.2 * * 50 0.1 
			 Bexley 14 0.1 56 0.3 * * 70 0.2 
			 Brent 4 0.0 50 0.3 0 0.0 50 0.1 
			 Bromley 11 0.0 66 0.3 * * 80 0.2 
			 Croydon 20 0.1 99 0.5 5 0.9 120 0.3 
			 Ealing 5 0.0 51 0.3 0 0.0 60 . 0.1 
			 Enfield 6 0.0 47 0.2 * * 60 0.1 
			 Greenwich 7 0.0 39 0.3 0 0.0 50 0.1 
			 Harrow 12 0.1 56 0.6 0 0.0 70 0.2 
			 Havering * * 32 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Hillingdon 7 0.0 41 0.2 * * 50 0.1 
			 Hounslow 4 0.0 71 0.4 * * 80 0.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames * * 4 0.0 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Merton 0 0.0 35 0.4 4 1.6 40 0.2 
			 Redbridge 6 0.0 59 0.3 0 0.0 70 0.2 
			 Richmond upon Thames * * 47 0.6 0 0.0 50 0.3 
			 Sutton 0 0.0 14 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Waltham Forest 4 0.0 32 0.2 * * 40 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			   2003/04 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools  Special schools  Total( 5) 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4) 
			  London 200 0.0 1,340 0.3 50 0.4 1,590 0.2 
			  
			  Inner London 80 0.0 390 0.3 20 0.5 490 0.1 
			 Camden 7 0.1 15 0.2 * * 20 0.1 
			 City of London 0 0.0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0.0 
			 Hackney 12 0.1 26 0.4 * * 40 0.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham * * 13 0.2 0 0.0 10 0.1 
			 Haringey * * 20 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Islington * * 14 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea * * 15 0.4 0 0.0 20 0.2 
			 Lambeth 15 0.1 10 0.1 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Lewisham 8 0.0 34 0.3 * * 40 0.1 
			 Newham 10 0.0 71 0.4 0 0.0 80 0.2 
			 Southward 9 0.0 47 0.5 10 2.1 70 0.2 
			 Tower Hamlets * * 43 0.3 0 0.0 50 0.1 
			 Wandsworth 0 0.0 46 0.5 6 0.8 50 0.2 
			 Westminster 7 0.1 40 0.5 0 0.0 50 0.2 
			  
			  Outer  L ondon 120 0.0 950 0.3 30 0.3 1,090 0.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 12 0.1 37 0.3 0 0.0 50 0.2 
			 Barnet * * 42 0.2  * 40 0.1 
			 Bexley 8 0.0 51 0.3  * 60 0.2 
			 Brent 7 0.0 61 0.4  * 70 0.2 
			 Bromley 7 0.0 87 0.4  * 100 0.2 
			 Croydon 15 0.1 88 0.5  * 110 0.2 
			 Ealing * * 48 0.3  * 50 ' 0.1 
			 Enfield * * 80 0.4  0.0 80 0.2 
			 Greenwich 19 0.1 69 0.5  * 90 0.3 
			 Harrow 8 0.0 58 0.6  * 70 0.2 
			 Havering * * 35 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Hillingdon 10 0.0 61 0.3 * * 70 0.2 
			 Hounslow 7 0.0 76 0.5 5 1.2 90 0.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0.0 9 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Merton 0 0.0 20 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Redbridge 4 0.0 53 0.3 * * 60 0.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames * * 30 0.4 0 0.0 30 0.2 
			 Sutton * * 20 0.1 * * 20 0.1 
			 Waltham Forest 8 0.0 24 0.2 * * 40 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			   2004/05 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools  Special schools  Total( 5) 
			   Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4)  Number  Percentage( 4) 
			  London 140 0.0 1,340 0.3 40 0.3 1,510 0.1 
			  
			  Inner London 70 0.0 340 0.3 20 0.4 420 0.1 
			 Camden 6 0.1 8 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.1 
			 City of London * * 0 n/a 0 n/a — — 
			 Hackney 6 0.0 17 0.2 5 1.3 30 0.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 0.0 15 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Haringey 0 0.0 28 0.2 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Islington * * 7 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea * * 15 0.4 0 0.0 20 0.2 
			 Lambeth 19 0.1 20 0.3 * * 40 0.2 
			 Lewisham * * 22 0.2 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Newham 16 0.1 66 0.4 * * 80 0.2 
			 Southward 6 0.0 28 0.3 * * 40 0.1 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 0.0 41 0.3 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Wandsworth * * 45 0.4 6 0.8 50 0.2 
			 Westminster 4 0.0 30 0.4 0 0.0 30 0.2 
			  
			  Outer London 80 0.0 990 0.3 20 0.3 1,090 0.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 0.0 42 0.3 0 0.0 50 0.2 
			 Barnet * * 56 0.3 0 0.0 60 0,1 
			 Bexley 13 0.1 46 0.3 * * 60 0.2 
			 Brent 6 0.0 79 0.5 0 0.0 90 0.2 
			 Bromley 4 0.0 52 0.2 0 0.0 60 0.1 
			 Croydon 3 0.0 96 0.5 3 0.5 100 0.2 
			 Ealing 5 0.0 74 0.5 0 0.0 80 0.2 
			 Enfield * * 61 0.3 0 0.0 60 0.1 
			 Greenwich 15 0.1 91 0.6 4 1.0 110 0.3 
			 Harrow * * 49 0.5 0 0.0 50 0.2 
			 Havering 3 0.0 37 0.2 0 0.0 40 0.1 
			 Hillingdon * * 54 0.3 * * 60 0.1 
			 Hounslow 6 0.0 69 0.4 * * 80 0.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 0.0 6 0.1 0 0.0 10 0.0 
			 Merton * * 32 0.4 0 0.0 30 0.1 
			 Redbridge * * 57 0.3 * * 60 0.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0.0 22 0.3 0 0.0 20 0.1 
			 Sutton * * 23 0.1 * * 30 0.1 
			 Waltham Forest 9 0.0 46 0.3 5 0.8 60 0.2 
			 * = Less than three, or a rate based on less than three. — = Less than five, or a rate based on less than five. n/a = Not applicable (no schools of this type). (1) Figures are as confirmed by local authorities via the data checking exercise. (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. (4) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) pupils in primary, secondary and special schools, excluding dually registered pupils in special schools in January 2005. (5) Totals across all school types have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	—continued
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools: number of permanent exclusions (as reported by schools—see quality note)—2000/01 to 2004/05 
			  Sutton local authority area 
			2000/01  2001/02 
			  URN  Establishment name  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of excluded school population  Reliability indicator—see quality note  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of excluded school population  Reliability indicator—see quality note 
			 102962 Cheam Common Junior School — — — — — — 
			 102967 Abbey Primary School * * Marginal * * Significant 
			 102998 Carshalton Boys Sports College 3 0.3 Marginal * * Marginal 
			 102999 Carshalton High School for Girls * * Marginal 3 0.3 Significant 
			 103000 Greenshaw High School — — — 3 0.2 Significant 
			 103002 Glenthome High School * * Marginal 10 1.0 Marginal 
			 103003 Stanley Park High School 7 0.7 Marginal 10 1.1 Marginal 
			 131104 Overton Grange School * * Marginal * * Marginal 
			 103007 Wilson's School — — — * * Significant 
			 103009 The John Fisher School 4 0.4 Marginal — — — 
			 103010 Cheam High School 4 0.3 Marginal * * Marginal 
			 103011 Sutton Grammar School for Boys — — — — — — 
			 103025 Sherwood Park School — — — — — — 
			 103026 Wandle Valley School — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  Sutton local authority area 
			2002/03  2003/04 
			  URN  Establishment name  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of excluded school population  Reliability indicator—see quality note  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of excluded school population  Reliability indicator—see quality note 
			 102962 Cheam Common Junior School — — — — — — 
			 102967 Abbey Primary School — — — — — — 
			 102998 Carshalton Boys Sports College * 0.1 Marginal * * Marginal 
			 102999 Carshalton High School for Girls — — — — — — 
			 103000 Greenshaw High School — — — * * Marginal 
			 103002 Glenthome High School 5 0.5 Marginal 8 0.7 Marginal 
			 103003 Stanley Park High School 6 0.6 Marginal 4 0.4 Marginal 
			 131104 Overton Grange School * 0.2 Marginal — — — 
			 103007 Wilson's School — — — — — — 
			 103009 The John Fisher School — — — * * Marginal 
			 103010 Cheam High School * 0.1 Marginal — — — 
			 103011 Sutton Grammar School for Boys — — — * * Marginal 
			 103025 Sherwood Park School — — — — — — 
			 103026 Wandle Valley School — — — * * Marginal 
		
	
	
		
			  Sutton local authority area 
			2004/05 
			  URN  Establishment name  Number of permanent exclusions  Percentage of excluded school population  Reliability indicator—see quality note 
			 102962 Cheam Common Junior School * * Marginal 
			 102967 Abbey Primary School — — — 
			 102998 Carshalton Boys Sports College 4 0.4 ok 
			 102999 Carshalton High School for Girls — — — 
			 103000 Greenshaw High School * * ok 
			 103002 Glenthome High School 6 0.5 ok 
			 103003 Stanley Park High School 7 0.8 ok 
			 131104 Overton Grange School * * ok 
			 103007 Wilson's School * * ok 
			 103009 The John Fisher School — — — 
			 103010 Cheam High School — — — 
			 103011 Sutton Grammar School for Boys * * ok 
			 103025 Sherwood Park School * * ok 
			 103026 Wandle Valley School — — — 
			 — = No exclusions. * = One or two exclusions or a rate based on one or two exclusions.  Notes: 1. Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. 2. The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on the school roll (excluding dually registered pupils) as at January 2005. 3. In 2000/01,2001/02,2002/03 the numbers of permanent exclusions collected from schools via the Annual Schools' Census (ASC) were known to have been under-reported and so have to be treated with some caution. As a result, a checking exercise was carried out—but this was at LEA level only. School level exclusion numbers or percentages shown here for 2000/01 are as reported In ASC. The reliability Indicator has been derived as follows: Where number of exclusions returned via ASC, aggregated to LEA level <30: If the confirmed number increased or decreased by more than five >>"SIGNIFICANT" change. If the confirmed number increased or decreased by five or less >>"MARGINAL" change. Confirmed number matches ASC number >>"ok". Where number of exclusions returned via ASC. aggregated to LEA level>=30: If the confirmed number increased or decreased by more than 15 per cent. >>"SIGNIFICANT" change. If the confirmed number increased or decreased by 15 per cent. or less >>"MARGINAL" change. Confirmed number matches ASC number >>"ok". 4. In 2003/04,2004/05 the numbers of permanent exclusions collected from schools via the Annual Schools' Census (ASC) were known to have been under-reported and so have to be treated with some caution. As a result, a checking exercise was carried out—but this was at LEA level only. School level exclusion numbers or percentages shown here for 2000/01 are as reported in ASC. The reliability indicator has been derived as follows: For each school type within an LA: If the confirmed numbers increased or decreased by more than 10 >>"HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT" change. If the confirmed number increased or decreased by more than five >>"SIGNIFICANT" change. If the confirmed number increased or decreased by five or less >>"MARGINAL" change. Confirmed number matches ASC number .>>"ok". 5. This quality check is based upon LA level returns and so can only provide a broad indication of the reliability of individual schools' figures.

Pupil Exclusions: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in  (a) Hampshire,  (b) Southampton and  (c) Portsmouth were temporarily excluded for (i) drug and alcohol related problems, (ii) sexual misconduct, (iii) pupil abuse and (iv) adult abuse in each of the last four years.

Jim Knight: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2) : Number of fixed period exclusions by reason of exclusion 2003/04 and 2004/05—Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton local authority areas 
			   Physical assault  Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour
			   Against a pupil  Against an adult  Against a pupil  Against an adult  Sexual misconduct  Drug and alcohol related  Total 
			  2003/04
			 Hampshire 2,161 471 475 2,720 134 401 6,362 
			 Portsmouth 807 184 173 1,012 22 53 2,251 
			 Southampton 168 49 23 263 7 29 539 
			 
			  2004/05
			 Hampshire 2,468 449 525 3,236 127 468 7,273 
			 Portsmouth 717 209 136 847 27 72 2,008 
			 Southampton 592 159 100 791 11 46 1,699 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes non-maintained special schools.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey 
		
	
	Only two years of data relating to the reason for exclusion are currently available. The first year for which information on the reason for exclusion is available relates to the 2003/04 academic year. Exclusions data for 2004/05 academic year were published in June 2006.

Pupil Referral Units

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were in pupil referral units in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) gender,  (b) ethnicity and  (c) age of pupil.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Pupil referral units: Number of pupils by ethnic group ( 1,2,3)( ) 1997-2006 position in January each year  England 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 White 6,550 6,560 6,970 5,900 6,130 6,330 7,450 8,510 
			 Black Caribbean 400 470 480 380 420 440 500 590 
			 Black African 110 120 110 90 100 110 150 150 
			 Black Other 240 190 240 220 210 240 280 280 
			 Indian 30 40 40 30 20 30 40 40 
			 Pakistani 80 60 90 80 60 70 80 120 
			 Bangladeshi 10 50 40 50 60 50 60 90 
			 Chinese (6)— 10 10 10 (6)— 10 10 10 
			 Other 110 180 190 90 190 220 310 270 
			 Classified 7,530 7,670 8,160 6,850 7,190 7,500 8,880 10,060 
			 Unclassified (4) (6)— 70 110 1,630 2,100 2,450 3,130 2,980 
			 Total pupils (5) 7,530 7,740 8,260 8,480 9,290 9,960 12,010 13,040 
			  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	
		
			   2005  2006 
			 White 8,840 9,490 
			 White British 8,530 9,170 
			 Irish 40 60 
			 Traveller of Irish Heritage 80 60 
			 Gypsy/Roma 50 70 
			 Any Other White Background 140 140 
			 Mixed 570 710 
			 White and Black Caribbean 360 400 
			 White and Black African 50 70 
			 White and Asian 40 50 
			 Any Other Mixed Background 130 190 
			 Asian 380 340 
			 Indian 60 50 
			 Pakistani 130 110 
			 Bangladeshi 130 90 
			 Any Other Asian Background 60 80 
			 Black 890 840 
			 Caribbean 500 460 
			 African 270 270 
			 Any Other Black Background 110 110 
			 Chinese 10 10 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 120 130 
			 Classified 10,810 11,520 
			 Unclassified (4) 3,660 3,720 
			 Total Pupils (5) 14,470 15,240 
			 (1) Includes solely registered pupils and those with other providers. (2) Pupils of compulsory school age and above are classified according to ethnic group. (3) The categories for recording ethnicity data in Pupil Referral Units changed in 2005 to reflect the categories used in the 2001 National population census. There is no direct mapping between this set of codes and those used in previous years which will result in some discontinuity in time series data. (4) Information was not sought or refused (5) All pupils of compulsory school age and above. (6) Less than 5 pupils  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of component parts.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil referral units: Number of pupils by gender ( 1)( ) 1997-2006 Position in January each year  England 
			   Number of boys  Number of girls  Total pupils 
			 1997 5,580 1,960 7,530 
			 1998 5,650 2,090 7,740 
			 1999 6,180 2,090 8,260 
			 2000 6,370 2,110 8,480 
			 2001 7,000 2,290 9,290 
			 2002 7,420 2,540 9,960 
			 2003 8,970 3,040 12,010 
			 2004 9,830 3,200 13,040 
			 2005 10,780 3,690 14,470 
			 2006 11,280 3,960 15,240 
			 (1) Includes solely registered pupils and those with other providers.  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of component parts.  Source:  School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil referral units: Number (headcount) of pupils by age ( 1,2)( ) 1997-2006 Position in January each year  England 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Pupils aged:   
			 2 and under 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (3)— 0 
			 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (3)— (3)— 
			 5 50 40 30 20 50 10 40 30 30 30 
			 6 50 40 50 40 40 30 70 50 40 40 
			 7 60 50 60 40 80 50 70 90 60 60 
			 8 100 90 70 60 130 90 140 130 130 100 
			 9 120 100 110 90 140 130 210 190 170 180 
			 10 130 150 150 130 210 180 280 260 250 360 
			 11 150 150 210 150 210 280 280 250 230 410 
			 12 420 450 470 530 550 590 780 840 890 810 
			 13 830 840 980 930 1,090 1,210 1,520 1,630 1,860 1,960 
			 14 1,680 1,640 1,830 1,990 2,170 2,430 2,800 3,220 3,650 3,870 
			 15 3,860 3,840 4,150 4,240 4,520 4,790 5,680 6,050 6,910 7,080 
			 16 90 360 140 240 90 130 130 230 160 230 
			 17 10 (3)— 10 20 10 20 20 40 60 80 
			 18 0 0 0 10 10 20 20 20 30 40 
			 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total all ages 7,530 7,740 8,260 8,480 9,290 9,960 12,010 13,040 14,470 15,240 
			 (1) Includes solely registered pupils and those with other providers (2) Age as at previous 31 August (3) less than 5 pupils  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of component parts.  Source:  School Census

Pupil Referral Units: Special Educational Needs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils registered at pupil referral units had  (a) statemented and  (b) unstatemented special educational needs as a result of (i) autistic spectrum disorder, (ii) emotional, behavioural and social difficulties, (iii) hearing impairment, (iv) moderate learning difficulty, (v) multi-sensory impairment, (vi) physical disability, (vii) profound and multiple learning difficulty, (viii) severe learning difficulty, (xix) specific learning difficulty, (x) speech, language and communication needs, (xi) visual impairment and (xii) other or unknown causes in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Pupil Referral Units: Special Educational Needs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils with speech, language and communication needs  (a) with statements and  (b) without statements were registered in pupil referral units at some point during each year from 1997 to 2006, broken down by local authority.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Pupils: Intimidation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he plans to provide to schools on the avoidance of the bullying of children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 8 May 2007
	As part of the Department's suite of guidance on prejudice-driven bullying, we recently announced that we would be producing dedicated guidance on tackling bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities. We have begun to meet with interested lobby groups and experts and hope to start work on this guidance later in the year. We intend to work closely with the Special Educational Consortium and other charities and groups with an interest in this area, drawing on current research.
	In addition, the Department's general guidance on bullying, "Don't Suffer In Silence", advises schools to refer to the bullying of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in their anti-bullying policies and suggests some strategies for addressing this type of bullying.

Pupils: Languages

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding his Department makes available to support schools with increasing numbers of bilingual learners;
	(2)  what funding has been made available for  (a) local authorities and  (b) individual schools in Cambridgeshire to deal with increasing numbers of bilingual learners.

Jim Knight: The Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) is a ring-fenced grant which provides additional support for underachieving ethnic minority pupils and for pupils for whom English is an Additional Language. The total grant for 2007-08 is £179 million. Cambridgeshire will receive £104,811.
	Approximately £435 million of the £24.6 billion Schools Formula Spending Share (SPSS) for 2005-06 was distributed on the basis of numbers of children for whom English is an Additional Language, and from low performing ethnic minority groups.
	The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which replaced SPSS for 2006-07, gives local authorities allocations for multi year periods: the allocations for 2007-08 will depend on pupil numbers in schools in January 2007 and the guaranteed unit of funding for each authority set in December 2005 is influenced by the number of its children for whom English is an Additional language.
	The Dedicated Schools Grant is supplied to local authorities in support of the Schools Budget. It is for the local authorities—in conjunction with their Schools Forum—to fund the schools they maintain from their Schools Budget. The Dedicated Schools Grant Guaranteed Unit of Funding for Cambridgeshire in 2007-08 is £3,622.90.
	We will set indicative allocations for a three year period for 2008-09 to 2010-11, following the current consultation as part of the new school funding arrangements for 2008-09, which will be finalised when we have the pupil numbers for each year. The possibility of an Exceptional Circumstances Grant to deal with additional pressures which may fall on local authorities after we set out three year allocations is under consideration as part of our consultations.
	The Government are working in partnership with local areas to spread best practice in meeting specific pressures that have arisen as a result of recent migration. In addition, we have set aside £400,000 over a two year period to fund a New Arrivals Excellence Programme to build capacity in local authorities to support schools with limited experience of teaching new arrivals with little knowledge of English.

School Disability Equality Schemes

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many secondary schools have published their disability equality schemes in accordance with the deadline of 4 December 2006.

Parmjit Dhanda: This information is not collected centrally. However, to support schools in meeting this new responsibility, in June 2006 the Department for Education and Skills published a training resource for schools and local authorities: 'Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings'. The materials in this resource will help schools meet their duties under the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the total public spending in England on school meals in  (a) cash terms and  (b) real terms for each year from 1979-80 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect data that allows us to report expenditure on school meals alone.
	However, the Government are providing additional funding of almost £500 million between 2005 and 2011 to support the improvement of school food. This includes, between April 2005 and March 2008, £90 million for authority maintained schools (including nursery schools and pupil referral units) and £130 million for local authorities.

School Meals: Poultry

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the percentage of poultry supplied to British schools which had been produced by UK farms in each of the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: This information is not held centrally. However, the DfES is actively supporting the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) that includes objectives for increasing tendering opportunities for small and local producers and for promoting food produced to higher standards of production, which should help provide a more level playing field for domestic producers. The Department has also included the PSFPI in the remit of the School Food Trust.

School Meals: Standards

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2007, Officia l Report, columns 346-47W, on school meals, whether changes were made to the School Meal Review Panel's recommendation on the standard covering deep-fried food contained in the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) Regulations 2006.

Parmjit Dhanda: The School Meals Review Panel recommended that 'meals should not contain more than two deep-fried products in a single week'. To ensure clarity and to maximise the impact of this standard, Ministers decided that the interpretation of 'deep-fried' in this context should include those products that were deep-fried in the manufacturing process.

School Meals: Standards

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much he plans to allocate  (a) to produce the revised guide to standards for school lunches and  (b) to implement its provisions.

Parmjit Dhanda: The School Food Trust has spent just under £54,700 of its grant in aid on the production of the revised guidance on the standards for school lunches. The costs of school lunches that meet the standards are met through a combination of expenditure by local authorities, schools, parents and carers. However, this Government are investing almost £500 million between 2005 and 2011 in transitional funding to support local authorities and schools in an ambitious six-year programme to transform school food.

Schools: Twinning

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools and colleges in  (a) England and  (b) Great Yarmouth are twinned with another school; and if he will take steps to increase this figure.

Jim Knight: The information is not collected centrally.

Schools: Accommodation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many temporary school buildings were in use in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Data supplied to the Department by local authorities in 2001, 2003 and 2005 show the following numbers of temporary buildings at maintained schools in each London borough:
	
		
			   2001  2003  2005 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5 9 19 
			 Barnet 72 153 99 
			 Bexley 190 174 44 
			 Brent 84 70 70 
			 Bromley 28 28 24 
			 Croydon 126 116 110 
			 Ealing 20 119 70 
			 Enfield — — 65 
			 Greenwich — — 22 
			 Hackney 29 10 19 
			 Haringey 7 30 7 
			 Harrow 144 146 150 
			 Havering — 2 22 
			 Hillingdon 95 90 9 
			 Hounslow 44 53 98 
			 Islington 2 11 8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 3 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — 2 
			 Lambeth 41 41 41 
			 Lewisham 31 32 25 
			 Merton — 4 5 
			 Newham 90 89 72 
			 Redbridge — — 14 
			 Richmond upon Thames — 16 35 
			 Southwark 9 11 11 
			 Sutton 99 104 84 
			 Tower Hamlets 17 12 15 
			 Waltham Forest — 19 19 
			 Wandsworth 22 22 29 
			 Westminster 4 — 2 
		
	
	These data are of thought to be of variable quality and completeness. Data are not held by my Department for other years since 1997.
	Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under £700 million in 1996-97 to £6.4 billion in 2007-08 and will rise further to £8.0 billion by 2010-11. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to authorities and schools so that they can address their local priorities, including the replacement of decayed temporary accommodation, on which we have set a high priority. Given the high levels of funding, authorities have the opportunity to replace temporary buildings where they are considered to be unsuitable.
	Modern, high-quality mobile or demountable buildings provide a good environment for teaching and learning where there is short-term need. They might, for instance, be needed to cope with a short-term increase in pupil numbers, or where extensive remodelling or rebuilding of permanent accommodation means providing temporary accommodation on the school site, rather than transporting children elsewhere.

Schools: Bexley

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1293W, to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr. Evennett), on schools: Bexley, what the dedicated schools grant was per pupil for each London borough.

Jim Knight: The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was first introduced in 2006-07; the funding that each London borough received in 2006-07 and the indicative allocation for 2007-08 are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			   2006-07 Final  2007-08 Indicative 
			   DSG guaranteed unit of funding per pupil  Total DSG funding (£ million)  DSG guaranteed unit of funding per pupil  Total DSG funding (£ million) 
			 Camden 5,551.08 110.974 5,922.61 118.874 
			 Greenwich 4,745.46 157.469 5,120.20 169.199 
			 Hackney 5,490.66 140.069 5,906.04 151.250 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,069.52 78.825 5,413.02 81.724 
			 Islington 5,146.07 116.438 5,555.20 124.584 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,210.96 56.218 5,532.73 60.272 
			 Lambeth 5,207.74 147.071 5,596.25 160.127 
			 Lewisham 4,996.83 161.465 5,335.09 169.833 
			 Southwark 5,161.89 167.665 5,525.05 173.653 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,609.73 197.620 6,028.42 215.852 
			 Wandsworth 4,512.85 124.128 4,891.66 135.255 
			 Westminster 4,852.82 86.014 5,203.08 90.690 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,097.13 119.913 4,378.90 128.780 
			 Barnet 4,081.12 173.792 4,344.26 186.125 
			 Bexley 3,719.15 137.002 3,969.90 145.552 
			 Brent 4,315.53 159.124 4,663.30 175.401 
			 Bromley 3,525.16 156.417 3,775.05 167.060 
			 Croydon 3,805.52 186.482 4,079.87 196.467 
			 Ealing 4,339.44 170.813 4,634.20 183.560 
			 Enfield 3,984.34 186.575 4,256.52 201.906 
			 Haringey 4,481.61 144.409 4,790.71 156.829 
			 Harrow 4,050.85 119.052 4,310.75 128.111 
			 Havering 3,718.84 133.791 3,961.84 141.827 
			 Hillingdon 3,918.76 148.435 4,179.20 158.629 
			 Hounslow 4,166.68 134.705 4,457.19 144.218 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,826.14 73.799 4,068.61 77.964 
			 Merton 4,004.28 87.087 4,270.05 90.552 
			 Newham 4,526.29 215.377 4,860.15 233.900 
			 Redbridge 3,756.81 151.437 4,027.42 163.239 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,880.40 80.464 4,119.38 85.895 
			 Sutton 3,809.62 107.407 4,065.90 113.797 
			 Waltham Forest 4,115.24 144.467 4,399.07 153.499 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are on a cash basis 2. Prior to the introduction of the DSG, funding for nursery, primary and secondary school aged pupils was through the Education Funding System (EFS) which was part of the local government finance settlement. EFS was based on what an authority needed to fund education whereas DSG is largely based on an authority's previous spending. EFS also included funding for an authority's central functions, this is still part of DCLG's local government finance settlement rather than DSG. For these reasons EFS and DSG are not comparable. 3. The DSG does not represent the totality of education funding; there are other grants that support the schools budget which have not been included in the table.  Source: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=9405

Schools: Complaints

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on his Department's guidance on school complaints procedures, LEA/01/0180/2003.

Jim Knight: During Anti-Bullying Week 2006, the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) launched a draft report into school bullying complaints procedures. The Department is facilitating a consultation with key stakeholders on behalf of the OCC and expects to receive the final report in April/May 2007. In addition, the Local Government Ombudsman recently wrote to the Department about the possibility of extending his remit to cover the internal management of schools. No other representations have been received by the Department on school complaints procedures.

Schools: Crime

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many criminal offences were committed by pupils on school premises in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Schools: Finance

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the dedicated schools grant was for Eastbourne in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the average funding per school pupil is in  (a) Eastbourne,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills allocates revenue funding to local authorities so the requested information is not available for Eastbourne.
	The dedicated schools grant (DSG) was introduced in 2006-07, prior to this authorities' revenue funded was from standard spending assessments (SSA) and education formula spending (EPS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. The per pupil funding for East Sussex local authority and England from 1997-98 to 2005-06 was:
	
		
			  Funding per three-19 year old pupil in real terms (£) 
			   East Sussex  England 
			 1997-98 3,030 3,030 
			 1998-99 3,100 3,090 
			 1999-00 3,220 3,230 
			 2000-01 3,480 3,480 
			 2001-02 3,640 3,650 
			 2002-03 3,740 3,760 
			 2003-04 3,790 3,880 
			 2004-05 3,950 4,020 
			 2005-06 4,130 4,230 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: Real terms at 2005-06 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 September 2006. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three-19 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three year old maintained pupils and estimated three-four year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10. 6. Status: Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 
		
	
	The introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education; the 2006-07 DSG is based largely on an authority's previous spending.
	In addition, DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through CLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means we have a break in our time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, we have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. There are other grants that support the schools budget, these are not included in the provided DSG figures. The cash figures for all funded pupils aged three-15 in East Sussex and England are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06 Baseline  2006-07 DSG guaranteed unit of funding  2007-08 DSG guaranteed unit of funding 
			 East Sussex 3,371 3,598 3,831 
			 England 3,41 1 3,643 3,888

Schools: Private Finance Initiative

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools have Eco-school status at  (a) bronze,  (b) silver and  (c) green flag level; and whether each school listed was (i) built and (ii) maintained through a private finance initiative contract.

Jim Knight: Eco-schools hold the information about which schools have achieved  (a) bronze,  (b) silver and  (c) green flag levels. In total, 2,633 schools have so far been awarded bronze awards, of these 1,301 have gone on to achieve a silver award; and 562 schools have been awarded a green flag.
	DFES has record of 833 PFI schools in England. Of these schools, 68 have achieved Eco-schools status at one of the Eco-schools levels. All schools that were built under PFI are also maintained through a private finance contract. However there are 12 schools in Stoke-on-Trent that were not built under PFI but are maintained under a private finance contract that have achieved one of the eco-schools award levels.
	
		
			  Numbers of schools achieving the Eco-schools award levels  Schools maintained but not built under PFI (in Stoke-on-Trent)  Total number of schools built and maintained under PFI in England 
			 Bronze 12 56 
			 Silver 2 18 
			 Green flag 3 6

Schools: Standards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted categories (i) special measures, (ii) serious weaknesses and (iii) underachieving in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary-aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted category (i) special measures, (ii) serious weaknesses and (iii) underachieving in each year since 1997 (A) in total and (B) in each local authority;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted category (i) special measures and (ii) notice to improve in 2007, broken down by local education authority;
	(4)  how many and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary-aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted category (i) special measures and (ii) notice to improve in 2007 (A) in total and (B) in each local authority.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 3 May 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked in question number 132878 how many and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted categories (i) special measures, (ii) serious weaknesses and (iii) underachieving in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority.
	You asked in question number 132879 how many, and what percentage of  (a) community schools,  (b) voluntary aided schools,  (c) voluntary controlled schools,  (d) foundation schools,  (e) city technology colleges and  (f) academies were in Ofsted category (i) special measures and (ii) notice to improve in 2007, broken down by local education authority.
	The tables attached show the number and percentage of schools in a category at the end of each academic year, that is, on 31 August. In the course of any year, schools may be placed in and taken out of a category, and so the figures at any specific point during the preceding twelve months will not be the same as those for the end of the year. For the academic year 2006/07, the numbers only show schools in categories up to 31 December 2006 since these were the most recent set of schools for which we have complete inspection data.
	The school type is that listed on our current database of Educational Establishments, as at April 2007.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Swimming Pools

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained schools owned a swimming pool in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Data on school swimming pools were supplied to the Department by local education authorities in 2001 and 2003. However, the completeness and quality of the data was not good enough to accurately assess the number of pools. Data are not held for other years since 1997.

Schools: Tyne and Wear

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools were built in Tyne and Wear in each year since 1997; and how many are scheduled to be built;
	(2)  how many schools were scheduled to be refurbished in Tyne and Wear in each year since 1997; and how many were refurbished.

Jim Knight: School capital funding is allocated on a local authority basis. The Department does not maintain records of schools which are built or refurbished as prioritisation between types of build is decided at local authority level, using funds allocated by the Department and available locally.
	Newcastle upon Tyne local authority currently has a wave 1 project in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This includes 10 secondary schools to be rebuilt or refurbished, with a further six schools, already receiving buildings investment, allocated additional ICT investment through BSF. Total BSF investment for these schools (including PFI credits) will total some £192 million. This wave 1 project is currently due for completion in March 2011.
	Besides the BSF programme, there are allocations of £29 million of capital funding during the current period, 2005-06 to 2007-08, which will be prioritised at local authority and school level.

Secondary Education: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are enrolled in secondary schools in the London Borough of Havering.

Jim Knight: In January 2006 there were 16,594 pupils enrolled in secondary schools in Havering.
	Figures for January 2007 were published on Thursday 26 April in SFR 16/2007 (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000726/index.shtml). Currently this publication contains only national level figures but local authority level tables will be added by 18 May 2007.

Secondary Education: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in secondary education in the London borough of Havering participated in work placement programmes in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.

Secondary Education: Standards

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many failing secondary schools there were in each of the last 20 years for which his Department and its predecessors have used such a classification.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 April 2007
	Failing schools are usually considered to be those judged by Ofsted to require special measures. The following table gives the number of secondary schools that Ofsted placed into this category in each academic year since 1993/94. This was the first year that special measures judgements were made.
	
		
			  Academic year  Number of secondary schools placed into special measures 
			 1993/94 11 
			 1994/95 20 
			 1995/96 27 
			 1996/97 28 
			 1997/98 43 
			 1998/99 29 
			 1999/2000 38 
			 2000/01 23 
			 2001/02 19 
			 2002/03 35 
			 2003/04 61 
			 2004/05 37 
			 2005/06 32 
			 2006/07 (to 31 March 2007) 21

Special Educational Needs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the  (a) title,  (b) date of issue and  (c) consultation period was of each document issued for (i) public consultation and (ii) limited consultation on provision for special educational needs in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Special Educational Needs: Maintained Schools

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many maintained mainstream schools had  (a) less than one per cent.  (b) one to three per cent.  (c) three to five per cent.  (d) five to seven per cent.  (e) seven to 10 per cent.  (f) over 10 per cent.  (g) over 20 per cent.  (h) over 30 per cent.  (i) over 40 per cent. and  (j) over 50 per cent. of the school population with special educational needs in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Some of the schools shown in the table will have resourced provision/units/special classes for pupils with special educational needs.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools( 1) : Pupils with special educational needs (SEN)( 2, 3) —1997-2006 position in January each year—England 
			   Pupils with SEN 
			   0-0.9%  1.0-2.9%  3.0-4.9%  5.0-6.9%  7.0-9.9%  10.0-19.9%  20.0-29.9%  30.0-39.9%  40.0-49.9%  50% and over 
			 1997 944 632 558 840 1,962 9,140 5,751 1,873 586 219 
			 1998 310 365 426 741 1,878 9,252 6,356 2,114 698 272 
			 1999 217 210 298 584 1,517 9,353 6,695 2,409 730 301 
			 2000 151 178 258 492 1,304 8,965 7,131 2,610 806 327 
			 2001 164 219 227 428 1,244 8,559 7,161 2,841 890 323 
			 2002 268 347 347 592 1,496 8,831 6,615 2,446 757 237 
			 2003(4) 165 305 570 1,089 2,524 10,002 5,045 1,557 397 118 
			 2004(4) 151 307 576 974 2,422 9,970 5,120 1,580 428 113 
			 2005(4) 115 274 523 901 2,280 9,963 5,168 1,699 417 143 
			 2006(4) 94 224 435 755 2,079 9,614 5,577 1,892 493 161 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) Includes pupils with special education needs with a statement and those with special educational needs without a statement. (4) Due to changes in the classification system for SEN, the number of pupils with SEN without statements reported in 2003 and later are not directly comparable with earlier years.  Source: School Census

Standard Assessment Tasks

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average Standard Assessment Test (SAT) results were at key stages  (a) one,  (b) two and  (c) three for (i) mathematics, (ii) English and (iii) science in each year since the introduction of SAT.

Jim Knight: Information on the proportion of pupils achieving the expected level at the end of each Key Stage is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Key Stage 1: Percentage of pupils in all schools in England achieving Level 2 or above, 1995 to 2006 
			   Mathematics  Reading  Writing  Spelling 
			 1995 79 78 80 — 
			 1996 82 78 79 — 
			 1997 84 80 80 62 
			 1998 84 80 81 66 
			 1999 87 82 83 71 
			 2000 90 83 84 72 
			 2001 91 84 86 75 
			 2002 90 84 86 78 
			 2003 90 84 81 — 
			 2004 90 85 82 — 
			 2005 91 85 82 — 
			 2006 90 84 81 — 
			  Notes: 1. 2006 figures are provisional. Figures for all other years are based on final data. 2. The spelling test was only taken between 1997 to 2002 3. For Key Stage 1 a new method of assessment, where only teacher assessments (TA) were reported, was trialled in some LAs in 2004 and fully rolled out in 2005. As a result figures for 1995-2003 are based on test/task results, 2004 figures are calculated using a combination of TA results for trial schools and test/task results for non-trial schools, 2005-06 figures are based on teacher assessment results. Hence data shown in the table for results from 2004 onwards are not directly comparable with those prior to 2004, and care is needed in interpreting trends in the data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Key Stage 2: Percentage of pupils in all schools in England achieving Level 4 or above, 1995 to 2006 
			   English  Mathematics  Science 
			 1995 49 45 70 
			 1996 57 54 62 
			 1997 63 62 69 
			 1998 65 59 69 
			 1999 71 69 78 
			 2000 75 72 85 
			 2001 75 71 87 
			 2002 75 73 86 
			 2003 75 73 87 
			 2004 78 74 86 
			 2005 79 75 86 
			 2006 79 76 87 
			  Note: 2006 figures are revised. Figures for all other years are based on final data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Key Stage 3: Percentage of pupils in all schools in England achieving Level 5 or above, 1995 to 2006 
			   English  Mathematics  Science 
			 1995 55 58 56 
			 1996 57 57 57 
			 1997 57 60 60 
			 1998 65 59 56 
			 1999 64 62 55 
			 2000 64 65 59 
			 2001 65 66 66 
			 2002 67 67 67 
			 2003 69 71 68 
			 2004 71 73 66 
			 2005 74 74 70 
			 2006 73 77 72 
			  Note: 2006 figures are revised. Figures for all other years are based on final data.

Students: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from Darlington were allocated a university place in each year since 1996.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the following table. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.
	
		
			  Number of entrants to undergraduate courses from Darlington local authority UK higher education institutions( 1 ) academic years 1996/97 to 2005/ 06 
			  Academic year  Number of entrants 
			 1996/97 550 
			 1997/98 590 
			 1998/99 640 
			 1999/2000 660 
			 2000/01 725 
			 2001/02 805 
			 2002/03 1,020 
			 2003/04 985 
			 2004/05 1,015 
			 2005/06 990 
			 (1 )Excludes the Open University.  Note : Figures are on snapshot basis as at the 1 of December and are rounded to the nearest 5.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Teachers: Manpower

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people with qualified teacher status there were in  (a) pupil referral units,  (b) special needs units attached to mainstream schools,  (c) classes in maintained mainstream schools and  (d) maintained special schools in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers with qualified teacher status employed in pupil referral units, mainstream nursery/primary and secondary schools and maintained special schools in England, January 1997 to 2007.
	The number of teachers employed in special needs units attached to mainstream schools cannot be provided separately.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent number of regular qualified teachers in pupil referral units, maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools and maintained special schools  in England, January 1997 to 2007( 1) 
			   Pupil referral units( 2)  Maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools  Maintained special schools 
			 1997 3,220 378,320 14,700 
			 1998 3,520 376,660 14,260 
			 1999 3,860 379,620 14,150 
			 2000 3,960 382,740 14,120 
			 2001 4.150 386,380 14,030 
			 2002 4,650 389,660 13,860 
			 2003 4,900 389,830 13,630 
			 2004 5,220 391,040 13,750 
			 2005 5,970 394,000 13,330 
			 2006 6,300 397,870 13,470 
			 2007(1) 6,530 398,300 13,470 
			 (2)( )Pupil referral unit teacher numbers include other teachers who work outside of mainstream primary, secondary and special schools i.e. home tutors. (1 )Provisional  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies,618g (Teachers)

Teachers: Occupational Health

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in  (a) Greater London,  (b) the London Borough of Havering and  (c) Romford had work-related accidents in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of reported work-related injuries to teachers or teaching professionals in schools in the London Government office region and the London borough of Havering in each year from 1996-97 to 2005-06 which were classed as major or required an absence from work of over three days. This information is not available for Romford constituency.
	A change to the occupations coding framework from 2002/03 means that figures from this year are not directly comparable with earlier years.
	
		
			  Injuries to teachers( 1)  in educational establishments in the London Government office region (GOR) and the London  b orough of Havering 1996-97 to 2005-06( 2)  as reported to all enforcing authorities. 
			   London GOR (inc l uding LB of Havering)  London  b orough of Havering 
			   Major injuries  Over 3 day injuries  Total  Major injuries  Over 3 day injuries  Total 
			 1996-97 49 92 141 0 3 3 
			 1997-98 49 97 146 1 0 1 
			 1998-99 47 108 155 5 7 12 
			 1999-2000 38 116 154 1 7 8 
			 2000-01 49 109 158 1 1 2 
			 2001-02 36 85 121 0 1 1 
			
			 2002-03 40 106 146 3 1 4 
			 2003-04 57 123 180 1 5 6 
			 2004-05 64 117 181 3 4 7 
			 2005-06(2) 64 114 178 3 6 9 
			 (1 )A change to the occupations coding framework used to compile these figures from 2002/03 means that information from that year onward are not directly comparable with the earlier years. Information to 2001-02 includes teachers in primary and secondary education. Information from 2002-03 includes teaching professionals in primary and nursery, secondary, special educational needs and teaching professionals not elsewhere classified. (2 )Provisional.  Source: Health and Safety Executive.

Teachers: Pay

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total salary payments to people with qualified teacher status in  (a) pupil referral units,  (b) special needs units attached to mainstream schools,  (c) classes in maintained mainstream schools and  (d) maintained special schools was in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the total expenditure on staff employed in local authority maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools and maintained special schools in England, financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06.
	Expenditure for teaching staff employed in pupil referral units is not available and information for special needs units attached to mainstream schools cannot be provided separately.
	
		
			  Total expenditure on teaching staff( 1)  in local authority maintained schools( 2)  in England: 1997-98 to 2005-06( 2,3,4,6 ) cash terms figures( 5,6 ) as reported by local authorities as at 25th April 2007. 
			  £ 
			   Total expenditure by maintained schools on teaching staff (including supply teachers)( 1,2) 
			   Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools  Maintained special schools 
			 1997-98 8,990,811,000 451,502,000 
			 1998-99 9,330,524,000 457,626,000 
			
			 1999-00(3,4) 11,314,775,000 496,800,000 
			 2000-01 12,199,008,000 533,004,000 
			 2001-02 13,559,180,000 573,490,000 
			
			 2002-03(2,3) 14,027,268,000 582,243,000 
			 2003-04 15,457,315,000 638,386,000 
			 2004-05 16,037,051,000 658,115,000 
			 2005-06(5) 16,767,800,000 689,393,000 
			 (1) Includes teachers employed directly by the school, including supernumerary/peripatetic teachers on short-term contracts and supply teaching staff who are covering curriculum release, long-term absence, sickness absence and training absence. Relates to all contracted full- time and part- time teachers paid within the scope of the 'The Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) Order' and includes expenditure on salaries and wages consisting of gross pay, including bonus and allowances, maternity pay and the employer's contributions to national insurance and superannuation. Also includes threshold payments and other payments relating to teacher reforms. Expenditure on supply teachers not employed directly from the school (i.e. paid via an agency or another third party) are also included. Does not include expenditure on teaching staff employed centrally by the local authority.  (2) Includes all local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. Figures for 2002-03 exclude expenditure by local authority maintained nursery schools as these were not collected in that year.  (3) 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DFES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of consistent financial reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row.  (4) 1999-00 figures reflect to return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance.  (5) 2005-06 data remain provisional and subject to change by the local authority.  (6) Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Teachers: Overseas-Trained

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information his Department has supplied to overseas-trained teachers on qualified teacher status.

Jim Knight: holding answer 8 May 2007
	The work permit approval letters issued by Work Permits (UK) to employers provide information on the requirement to obtain QTS within four years in order to be able to continue teaching, and instruct the employers to bring the four year rule to the attention of the overseas trained teacher.
	My Department has sent out several reminders about the fact that overseas-trained teachers cannot continue to teach in schools beyond four years unless they have obtained qualified teacher status. These are sent in e-format, to schools, local authorities and also to employment agencies via the Recruitment Employment Confederation as well as information provided on the teachernet website and in 'A Guide to the Law for School Governors'.
	The most recent communication, in September 2006, also mentioned that it was intended that overseas trained teachers, who were on employment based teacher training programmes at the point of their four year anniversary, would cease to be eligible to work as teachers from September 2007.

Teaching Methods: Finance

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which projects aimed at promoting the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto are planned to receive funding; and how much each will receive.

Jim Knight: Between 2006-08, the Department will make available £2.7 million for the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto. The majority of this money will support the delivery of the 'Out and About package'—a series of training modules and supporting guidance to help teachers, school staff and providers deliver high quality learning outside the classroom experiences. Because the package is being put out for competitive tender, it is not possible to provide an exact figure for its total cost. In addition to the Manifesto funding, the government will continue to fund other projects that support learning outside the classroom, for example in 2007-08, the joint DCMS/DfES Museums and Galleries programme will be supported by £4.7 million funding and the London Challenge New Views will receive £1.6 million.

Thomas Telford School: Admissions

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the governing body of Thomas Telford School on allowing admissions of pupils living in the TF6 postcode area of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

Jim Knight: The Department has not had any discussions on this matter with the governing body of Thomas Telford School. Officials did contact the head teacher when the hon. Member first raised the issue in correspondence in autumn last year. The head teacher's view was that the school did not wish to seek a change to its catchment area, but if the Admissions Forum requested a change they would consider it and if appropriate submit a request to the Secretary of State. No such request has been received.

Truancy

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of half days were missed due to unauthorised absence from maintained mainstream schools in  (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency,  (b) Suffolk and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence from maintained mainstream schools in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997 are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Unauthorised pupil absence (percentage of half days missed) in maintained primary schools( 1)  by LA, 1997/98 to 2005/06( 2,3) 
			  Local authority  1997/98  1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 (final) 
			 Bedfordshire 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.21 0.21 0.17 0.22 0.25 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.33 0.34 0.39 0.39 0.46 
			 Essex 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.35 0.37 0.37 0.33 0.38 
			 Hertfordshire 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.37 0.34 0.32 0.33 0.34 
			 Norfolk 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.46 0.45 0.41 0.42 0.41 
			 Suffolk 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.26 0.25 0.27 0.31 0.33 
			 England 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.45 0.43 0.41 0.43 0.45 
		
	
	
		
			  Unauthorised pupil absence (percentage of half days missed) in maintained secondary schools( 1 ) by LA, 1997/98 to 2005/06( 2,3) 
			  Local authority  1997/98  1998/99  1999/2000  2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 (final) 
			 Bedfordshire 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.68 0.50 
			 Cambridgeshire 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.77 0.81 0.80 1.04 1.02 
			 Essex 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.90 0.84 1.00 1.09 1.07 
			 Hertfordshire 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.91 0.75 0.75 0.77 0.75 
			 Norfolk 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.07 1.02 1.02 1.08 1.22 
			 Suffolk 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.89 1.08 1.32 1.29 1.34 
			 England 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.09 1.07 1.13 1.23 1.20 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998. (3) Figures for the above local authorities are available to one decimal place prior to 2001/02 and two decimal places from 2001/02 onwards. 
		
	
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

Vocational Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what impact he expects the launch of the 14 to 19 diplomas to have on the vocational qualifications available to the 14 to 19 age group.

Jim Knight: holding answer 3 May 2007
	In September 2008 the Diplomas will only be available on a limited basis across the country. Other vocational qualifications will continue to be available and schools and colleges will be able to choose what to offer to young people. The impact of the introduction of diplomas on other vocational qualifications therefore will be determined by the choices that schools, colleges and ultimately young people make. We expect young people to increasingly choose a diploma or apprenticeship rather than one of the other vocational qualifications available to them, except where those vocational qualifications are part of a diploma, as we build up to the national entitlement from 2013. Our aim, as set out in the 14 to 19 White Paper, has always been to achieve a clearer set of choices for young people, each one leading to a recognised and valued qualification.

Young People: Unemployment

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) 16-year-olds,  (b) 17-year-olds and  (c) 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (i) are from (A) each social class and (B) each ethnic group and (ii) have a disability.

Jim Knight: The following tables give estimates of the proportion of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (i) from (A) each social class (NS-SEC) and (B) each ethnic group and; (ii) who have a disability. These are survey based estimates and have been obtained from the youth cohort study—they relate to the same cohort of young people at each age. NS-SEC is derived from parental occupation.
	
		
			  Table 1:  Proportion  of 16, 17 and 18-year—olds not in education, employment or training from each social class (NS-SEC) 
			  Percentage 
			   Population at age 16  N EET  a ge 16 in 2004  N EET  a ge 17 in 2005  N EET age 18 in 2006 
			 Large employers and higher professionals 18 7 7 15 
			 Lower professional and higher technical occupations 26 16 18 22 
			 Intermediate occupations 22 18 21 21 
			 Lower supervisory occupations 9 10 12 9 
			 Semi routine and routine occupations 13 23 21 16 
			 Other 12 26 21 17 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: P roportion  of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training from each ethnic group 
			  Percentage 
			   Population at age 16  NEET age 16 in 2004  NEET age 17 in 2005  NEET age 18 in 2006 
			 White 86 87 87 88 
			 Black 3 2 1 2 
			 Indian 2 1 1 1 
			 Pakistani/Bangladeshi 3 5 5 4 
			 Other Asian (including Chinese) 1 (1)— 1 1 
			 Other ethnic group (including mixed) 3 3 2 3 
			 Not answered 2 2 3 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: P roportion  of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training with a disability 
			  Percentage 
			   Population at age 16  NEET age 16 in 2004  NEET age 17 in 2005  NEET  age 18 in 2006 
			 Yes 4 8 7 7 
			 No 94 89 89 93 
			 Not answered 2 3 4 (1)— 
			 (1) Less than 0.5.per cent.